The explanation for this delayed cardiovascular response to a small quantity of alcohol is not entirely known. Some people have this form of hangover including me. Some factors may be an exaggerated sympathetic nervous system reaction to alcohol (up regulation that requires the sedative effects of alcohol to wear off first), toxic effects of the alcohol metabolites including acetaldehyde and acetate, metabolic acidosis, methanol contaminant and its degradation products, hypoglycemia, potassium and magnesium depletion, free fatty acids, dehydration, vitamin depletion, inflammatory reaction, catecholamine release, renin and aldosterone release, or a combination of several. Hangovers may not be so benign as those who suffer from them tend to have a higher cardiovascular mortality after controlling for the volume of alcohol. So modest drinking may reduce overall mortality but perhaps not for everyone. I suspect that the first factor mentioned is most important compounded by many of the others. What should we do? We should abstain or drink much less. If you decide to continue to drink but below the threshold amount causing the symptoms, keep an eye on your blood pressure and see your doctor regularly. Also, there should be further research to better understand it to see if there may be simple remedies.
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I have had this problem for about a year and a half now. Its unfortunate that noone has been able to come up with an explanation on this message board for these symptoms. I have always been a heavy drinker since 18 but I have very gradually cut back over the years. I am 32 years old and never really went to the doctor until recently to find out what is going on .
All of a sudden I experience heart palpitations several hours after I finish my last drink. Usually if I go to bed after being out around 2:00am I will wake up around 7-8am with my heart pounding. I am unable to sleep until later that evening unless I take a bunch of over the counter sleeping pills. I have tried different alcohol, drinking lots of water, taking various vitamins and it all causes the same symptoms after I finish drinking. Before this all started I would only get a hangover and they were relatively mild unless I overindulged.
The only so called fix for the symptom is working out. I jog or bike daily and if I jog for 5 miles or use the stationary bike and work up a sweat the symptoms will either disappear or lesson.. I hope someone may have some answers.
All of a sudden I experience heart palpitations several hours after I finish my last drink. Usually if I go to bed after being out around 2:00am I will wake up around 7-8am with my heart pounding. I am unable to sleep until later that evening unless I take a bunch of over the counter sleeping pills. I have tried different alcohol, drinking lots of water, taking various vitamins and it all causes the same symptoms after I finish drinking. Before this all started I would only get a hangover and they were relatively mild unless I overindulged.
The only so called fix for the symptom is working out. I jog or bike daily and if I jog for 5 miles or use the stationary bike and work up a sweat the symptoms will either disappear or lesson.. I hope someone may have some answers.
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VERY STRANGE I HAVE THE SAME ISSUE I AM A 22 YR OLD MALE I USED TO BE A HEAVY DRINKER BUT HAVE RECENTLY HAD TO STOP DUE TO THIS SAME ISSUE I WENT TO A CARDIOLOGIST AND WAS TOLD THAT IT COULD BE BECAUSE OF A LACK OF ENZYME TO BREAK DOWN THE ALCOHOL AND I SHOULD KEEP IT TO NO MORE THEN TWO DRINKS AT A TIME.
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Wow...I'm glad to see that others have had this happen to them but sad that there seems to be no cure other than not drinking. I have noticed this effect happening to me more and more since I've lost weight and my bf% is less than 15%...
I can function when i'm out on the town but later(approx 2 hours after) my HR is racing and I feel sick...I doesn't stop for an hour or two and scares the c**p out of me.
Perhaps its due to low BF or maybe I am missing some nutrients that help metabolize alcohol...guess i have to give up drinking because it just isn't worth this fear.
:-(
Babs
I can function when i'm out on the town but later(approx 2 hours after) my HR is racing and I feel sick...I doesn't stop for an hour or two and scares the c**p out of me.
Perhaps its due to low BF or maybe I am missing some nutrients that help metabolize alcohol...guess i have to give up drinking because it just isn't worth this fear.
:-(
Babs
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It would be interesting for people with this condition, who for whatever reason or even against medical advice continue to drink alcohol, to check their blood pressures and heart rates after alcohol. You could check it with an automatic blood pressure machine from a pharmacy. You could measure it before dinner and hourly after a dinner accompanied by alcohol until sleep, during an episode, and in the AM. Also you could do the same when you have dinner without alcohol.
Then you can report the blood pressures and heart rates on this web site.
Perhaps such people have quite a low blood pressure after alcohol and especially during an episode and the heart rate increases and the contraction of the heart increases to compensate. Or perhaps, the blood pressure is normal after alcohol but during an episode the blood pressure and heart rate go up high due to a high sympathetic tone or adrenaline release.
In either case, you can show your doctor the numbers for his input.
Then you can report the blood pressures and heart rates on this web site.
Perhaps such people have quite a low blood pressure after alcohol and especially during an episode and the heart rate increases and the contraction of the heart increases to compensate. Or perhaps, the blood pressure is normal after alcohol but during an episode the blood pressure and heart rate go up high due to a high sympathetic tone or adrenaline release.
In either case, you can show your doctor the numbers for his input.
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I have this problem as well, along with a sporadic history of panic attacks and sleep anxiety as well as low blood pressure when I stand up too fast or bend over too much. I've had EKG's and an MRI, and everything checks out fine.
My husband is a cardiac radiologist, and he says that the accelerated heart rate is a normal response to alcohol, due to the blood pressure reduction effect of dilating blood vessels, as others have noted here. Also, people prone to hypoglycemia (such as myself) may find this effect magnified by the adrenaline kick that happens when one's blood sugar crashes (processing alcohol reduces the liver's ability to aid in stabilizing blood glucose, increasing the risk of hypoglycemia).
It is terrifying when this happens, and more than once I have been "this close" to going to the ER in terror. Of course, the panic just makes the heart rate faster and harder to ignore, making the effect seem even worse.
I've also recently realized that I WAY overestimate my heart rate when it's happening. Recently I guessed 160, and it was actually around 125. Accelerated, but hardly anything to freak out over.
I've found that drinking lots of water, stopping alcohol intake earlier, avoiding California red wines (for some reason this never happens for me with French wine) and eating a cup of yogurt or drinking some milk before bed and during an episode, seems to help a bit. Really, though, the only reliable prevention is not drinking. :-(
The upshot, though, is that the heart rate response is normal. It's our over-sensitivity to noticing it that makes us different from others.
My husband is a cardiac radiologist, and he says that the accelerated heart rate is a normal response to alcohol, due to the blood pressure reduction effect of dilating blood vessels, as others have noted here. Also, people prone to hypoglycemia (such as myself) may find this effect magnified by the adrenaline kick that happens when one's blood sugar crashes (processing alcohol reduces the liver's ability to aid in stabilizing blood glucose, increasing the risk of hypoglycemia).
It is terrifying when this happens, and more than once I have been "this close" to going to the ER in terror. Of course, the panic just makes the heart rate faster and harder to ignore, making the effect seem even worse.
I've also recently realized that I WAY overestimate my heart rate when it's happening. Recently I guessed 160, and it was actually around 125. Accelerated, but hardly anything to freak out over.
I've found that drinking lots of water, stopping alcohol intake earlier, avoiding California red wines (for some reason this never happens for me with French wine) and eating a cup of yogurt or drinking some milk before bed and during an episode, seems to help a bit. Really, though, the only reliable prevention is not drinking. :-(
The upshot, though, is that the heart rate response is normal. It's our over-sensitivity to noticing it that makes us different from others.
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Ok. This is the third posting for me. See my previous 2 under the name doctor. In fact, I'm a cardiologist. But before I tell what I do and what I finally think about this I need some more information. If you follow my instructions on my second posting and post your results then I will study them and let you know my thoughts. No guarantees though.
For now let's name this condition:
Delayed alcohol tachycardia enhanced contractility syndrome (DATEC syndrome)
For now let's name this condition:
Delayed alcohol tachycardia enhanced contractility syndrome (DATEC syndrome)
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I have just read through all the posts on this subject as during the past few months I too have developed these symptoms after consuming alcohol. Its so scary when you wake in the middle of the night feeling as if your heart will explode as its pumping so fast! A couple of things have been mentioned which may contribute to this problem. Thyroid and magnesium have been mentioned. I recently went to see a naturopath and she recommended both a thyroid supplement and magnesium as I was deficient in magnesium and blood tests showed up some problem with thyroid. I've only recently started taking these supplements so will let you all know if it helps!!! If not, I will have to stop having my weekend drink :-(
Cath
Cath
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Wow...I'm so glad that I found this site because I recently started having this happen to me also.
I noticed that 4 beers will get this going and 3 beers has a lesser effect. I have been drinking lots of water before going to sleep because I get very dry-mouthed in the morning. I notice that drinking the water has helped and when I wake up to this I do some deep breathing to bring down the heart rate and aniexty. I also take an alprzolam ( Xanex) when I get this feeling.
The worst part is the aniexty and panic that follows. I spoke with two friends of mine who have the same problem and they have been dealing with it for years although I don't know how the aniexty hasn't stopped them from drinking. At 55 years old if I have to stop drinking, oh well. I quit smoking and I only have four beers at the most on a Saturday night so it won't be too hard to give up....but I'll miss that littel buzz.
I noticed that 4 beers will get this going and 3 beers has a lesser effect. I have been drinking lots of water before going to sleep because I get very dry-mouthed in the morning. I notice that drinking the water has helped and when I wake up to this I do some deep breathing to bring down the heart rate and aniexty. I also take an alprzolam ( Xanex) when I get this feeling.
The worst part is the aniexty and panic that follows. I spoke with two friends of mine who have the same problem and they have been dealing with it for years although I don't know how the aniexty hasn't stopped them from drinking. At 55 years old if I have to stop drinking, oh well. I quit smoking and I only have four beers at the most on a Saturday night so it won't be too hard to give up....but I'll miss that littel buzz.
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I have similar issues with fast heart rate at nite, or various times in day.
I have been trying different times to check my blood pressure in the day.
The blood pressure moniter also displays your pulse rate. Sometimes I find certain factors affect BP: If and how mush wine I had the nite before,
different foods can cause enough of a sensitivity to raise heart rate, how hydrated I am, what supplements or meds,etc. I feel if we can be our own detective, we may learn more than the doc can in a 15 minute visit, with only one blood pressure reading at that time. Of course
it's best to confer with doc in addition to bringing your notes along.
I have been trying different times to check my blood pressure in the day.
The blood pressure moniter also displays your pulse rate. Sometimes I find certain factors affect BP: If and how mush wine I had the nite before,
different foods can cause enough of a sensitivity to raise heart rate, how hydrated I am, what supplements or meds,etc. I feel if we can be our own detective, we may learn more than the doc can in a 15 minute visit, with only one blood pressure reading at that time. Of course
it's best to confer with doc in addition to bringing your notes along.
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i drink 2 to 8 cans most nights but only recently started having this problem it keeps me awake and really scares me
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I have started having the same thing - getting gradually worse. it used to be that after a night of drinking my heart would pound going up the stairs to work, now last week I got out of bed to go the the bathroom and my heart was doing 115 +.
If I just roll over in bed I can feel it jump up 10 or 20 notches.
As with the others, no sweating no other symptions just too much heart beat.
Not good as I like beer. But it is not the worse thing that can happen,
I go to a cardiologist for high cholestero, now its low XD , and he did not seem to know about it, but this is the 3
rd discussion board I have found where people have this.
If I just roll over in bed I can feel it jump up 10 or 20 notches.
As with the others, no sweating no other symptions just too much heart beat.
Not good as I like beer. But it is not the worse thing that can happen,
I go to a cardiologist for high cholestero, now its low XD , and he did not seem to know about it, but this is the 3
rd discussion board I have found where people have this.
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After reading everyone's entries and tweaking my own situation I found something that has been working for me.
Like everyone else I have been getting the RHB, sweating and sleeplessness along with the aniexty after drinking. I decided to cut down my intake, then after drinking beer for the night I drink about 3 large glasses of water. I also cut out the coffee with the breakfast before going to sleep.
I found that I was dehydrating a great deal after drinking so it made sense to replace the fluid and not with caffine. For the past two weeks when I go out on a Saturday night I limit myself to 3 beers or 2 beers and a shot. Not the same buzz as 5 beers but not to wake up to a racing heart and still being able to enjoy a few drinks is not a bad thing.
I guess our bodies chang over time and we need to adjust to those changes. I still have a restless night's sleep after drinking but so far the RHB thing has stopped. I'l keep you posted. Good luck
Like everyone else I have been getting the RHB, sweating and sleeplessness along with the aniexty after drinking. I decided to cut down my intake, then after drinking beer for the night I drink about 3 large glasses of water. I also cut out the coffee with the breakfast before going to sleep.
I found that I was dehydrating a great deal after drinking so it made sense to replace the fluid and not with caffine. For the past two weeks when I go out on a Saturday night I limit myself to 3 beers or 2 beers and a shot. Not the same buzz as 5 beers but not to wake up to a racing heart and still being able to enjoy a few drinks is not a bad thing.
I guess our bodies chang over time and we need to adjust to those changes. I still have a restless night's sleep after drinking but so far the RHB thing has stopped. I'l keep you posted. Good luck
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It has been a relief for me to read these posts and see I'm not alone. I have had these eposodes several tines over the past 6 months. I'll have a few drinks and go to sleep ok. Then I'll wakeup several hours later to my heart feeling like it is coming out of my chest and pulsing fingers and I can almost hear the racing in my ears. It has been extremely unsettling. I try to calm down get air drink water...but the only thing that has helped was taking a xanax to finally go back to sleep. I have had 5 episodes the most recent 2 nights ago after consuming 2 glasses of champagne. It is very scary. While I don't drink alcohol daily I do like a drink with friends every now and then but now I'm scared. Again it is nice to see so many otherwise healthy people with this issue. I've had the EKG Eko...my heart is good so I've been told but this scares the @#@! out of me. I wish someone would write in what it is and a cure. Someone mentioned some kind of syndrome but there was nothing else on line. Someone please give an answer.
Thanks
Thanks
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I am 35 years old and within the past year and a half or so I have developed this scary problem. I used to only notice it the next day. My heart seemed to beat faster than normal but would eventually go back to normal. Now if I drink too much I can't sleep right because of this. I wake up almost every hour or so with my heart racing. It is very scary and it has slowed me down quite a bit when I go out. I never was a heavy drinker - just the typical social drinker on a weekend here and there. I have been diagnosed recently with an underactive thyroid so I thought that might have something to do with it. However since seeing so many others with the same problem I don't think it could be that. I am glad I found this site because now I know it's not just me and that I don't necessarily have something serious going on! Thanks for all the input, guys! I feel much better!
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