Does drinking alcohol alleviate palpitations?
Disease description:
I occasionally feel palpitations. A friend suggested I take a few sips of alcohol—would drinking alcohol help alleviate palpitations?
Doctor's answer (2)
Dr. Liu Aifen
It is absolutely contraindicated to consume alcohol following episodes of palpitations, as alcohol may trigger or exacerbate arrhythmias and worsen palpitation symptoms. When palpitations occur, an electrocardiogram (ECG) should be performed to identify the specific type of arrhythmia. Additionally, cardiac enzyme testing is recommended to assess for possible myocardial injury. In most cases, alcohol consumption increases cardiac workload and may precipitate recurrence of arrhythmias; therefore, alcohol intake is strongly discouraged.
