Hearts and Alcohol

[RoseBam]

As a teenager, sometimes i do drink. But over the past year or so i have often woke up after a night of drinking (i would usually have about 3 glasses of wine) and my heart would be racing, like i had run up some stairs, and would stay this way for a good hour. this has happend about 5 times now, and usually will wake me up, it is completly random and i was wondering if it may have anything to do with the type of alcohol i am drinking -ie sugar content. I do suffer from some really rare heart defects, but i still want to be a teenager. i never get surverly intoxicated, but would just like to be able to have some fun with my pals. If i am going to drink, would would be the safest thing to drink?

[debola53]

Hi -Alcohol can sometimes irritate your heart and cause it to do unpleasant things. I don't know what your heart defects are, but drinking probably isn't the best thing to do. I know you want to have fun, and fit in, but if you do serious damage to your heart, that will not be much fun. I had to recently give up drinking wine due to arrhythmias, but I am hopeful that I will be able to drink it again. When you are older, you may not have the same reaction as now. The problem with drinking 3 glasses of wine is that it impairs your judgement, and you may do other things that will not be good for your heart. You only have one heart, and you want to take care of it so it will last you a long time. You have your whole wonderful life ahead of you! Do you mind my asking what defects you have?

[debola53]

I just read your previous note about your ICD and wierd heartbeats. You definitley should limit your alcohol-I think you would feel better. Do you drink any energy drinks or caffiene? That will make things much worse. I am so sorry your meds make you feel so bad, and this happened to you at such a young age. I really understand your wanting to lead a normal life-it is what we all want! Maybe you need a 2nd opinion about your meds. Look on the previous questions for one about what causes palpataions-it is a huge list from lots of people-you may find that you are doing some of those things. I will think good thoughts for you-Debi

[RoseBam]

i limit my cafine to one coffee a day, and dont drink energy drinks due to sleeping problems. yeah fitting in the big issue infortunatley, we would all like to say we dont give in to peer pressure but it is hard when you are young. I have never been told by my EP that i am not allowed to drink, i have asked him and he said i should be able to just live a normal life.. but i do understand this we issue wouldnt arise if i didnt drink. I will get my meds checked out. thanks.
x

[sueinns]

I'm not a teenager but I can certainly relate to your wanting to relax with a few drinks with friends.  Alcohol is a definite trigger for arrhythmias.  I have found that if I limit my glasses of wine to two, I'm usually ok.  Anything more than that will almost guarantee several hours of PVC's.

[newfish]

I'm in a-fib most of the time now. when I was 19... I could have a few without much effect, but if i had it to do over again I would not drink...because i do believe it does affect the heart and frankly my  heart was at it's best when younger(46 now wife and kids). If you are having heart troubles now, what could it be like in years to come? Really no one knows for sure but why risk it? My  take is have fun without it, others do.