Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy

Hi I am a 20 year old male and am currently a college student.  I have been drinking since my freshman year in high school socially and what I would percieve to be no more than my peers.  Once I entered college I began binge drinking every weekend and am now worried about being at risk for alcoholic cardiomyopathy.  I ran track in high school and was very physically active.  After high school I stopped excersising and began partying more.  I have noticed that when I wake up after a night of drinking, I feel a fluttering in my heart and slight chest pressure.  This eventually goes away but it causes great anxiety and I have recently been researching alcohol related heart problems.  I was wondering if anyone could help me out and maybe let me know what these sensations in my chest and heart could be and what could be causing them, or maybe if it is all in my head.

[Sweetwaterguy]

   You must know from your research that excessive alcohol usage is a well know trigger for atrial fibrillation and other heart arrhythmias as well as cardiomyopathy.
   Because you have taken time to do your research and even access this forum, it is apparent you are very concerned about these issues.  You are looking at heart issues as your health concern, when the real and most serious health issue you are facing is alcoholism.  I believe you are also aware of that, even though alcoholism is known as a disease of denial.  If you are willing to confront the drinking head on and do something about it, then the other concerns will take care of themselves.  
   With additional research, I would bet you could find an AA chapter either on campus or in your community.  You might want to check it out.
  

[grendslori]

Sweatwaterguy is absolutely corret in his writings above. You certainly could end up with a cardiomyopathy (muscle disease of the heart) and it already sounds like you are having irregular heart beats; those will often times cause a pressure feeling in the chest. You might want to REALLY consider the idea of leaving the drinks alone!