Can Alcohol-Induced Afib Be Reversed?

Reversing Atrial Fibrillation Caused by Alcohol With Effective Support

Atrial fibrillation is one of the many potential health impacts related to alcohol intake, and it presents a serious and impactful question: Can alcohol-induced Afib be reversed?

This is a vital concern for many considering putting down drinking due to cardiac concerns, and one that we take a deeper look at on this page.

For a condition as serious as atrial fibrillation, it’s important to understand what the long-term outlook is like once you quit alcohol consumption and dedicate yourself to a sober lifestyle. And that’s what we are

Of course, alcohol cessation is a challenge in its own right, so it’s important to get help on the path to sobriety. For that, Purpose Healing Center is here to serve you. We have locations in Scottsdale and Phoenix, and we offer a long list of services in order to meet the specific needs of each individual.

Keep reading to learn about reversing Afib when sober, and remember, we are here for confidential support at any time if you are ready to quit drinking.

What is Alcohol Induced Atrial Fibrillation?

Atrial fibrillation, or afib, is an irregular and often rapid heartbeat. It is caused by disrupted electrical signals in the upper chambers of the heart. In a person with afib, the atria quiver or flutter, rather than beating in a stable, steady rhythm.

Ultimately, developing atrial fibrillation leads to poor blood flow in the body, and the risk of things like clots, stroke, and heart failure all go up.

There are a number of potential triggers for atrial fibrillation. One of those is alcohol use, and if that is the underlying cause, it is known as alcohol induced atrial fibrillation. It’s actually possible for this to be triggered after just one night of heavy alcohol intake, something that is known as holiday heart syndrome.

Alternatively, alcohol induced atrial fibrillation can be the result of long-term alcohol abuse that gradually weakens the cardiovascular health of the individual over time.

How Does Alcohol Affect the Heart?

Habitual moderate alcohol consumption is harmful to human health in many different ways. In this case, we are specifically talking about how alcohol intake can harm cardiovascular health. Symptoms don’t always show up immediately, but frequent drinking can be expected to lead to heart-related issues at one point or another in the future.

First, alcohol will interfere with the heart’s electrical signaling system. Your heart rhythm is managed by electrical signals, and alcohol can get in the way of those signals and increase the risk of atrial fibrillation. Alcohol use will also lead to high blood pressure in many people, and can increase heart rate.

Even other issues can arise with heart health when you drink often. For one thing, ongoing electrolyte imbalances may exist in the body for a frequent drinker, and that can affect heart rhythm. Additionally, the heart muscle can be weakened by alcohol use, which is a condition known as cardiomyopathy.

What are the Symptoms of AFib Linked to Alcohol Consumption?

Those who are at an elevated afib risk should pay close attention to potential signs and symptoms of heart rhythm trouble. If anything seems off with your normal heart rhythm, getting medical help as soon as possible is advised.

One of the tricky things with atrial fibrillation is how the symptoms vary from one person to another. In fact, some people with this condition may have virtually no symptoms at all. Some of the common signs that come along with an atrial fibrillation recurrence are the following –

• Heart palpitations
• Chest pain or tightness
• Shortness of breath
• Dizziness or lightheadedness
• Fatigue or weakness
• Anxiety that worsens when the heart doesn’t feel right

It’s particularly important to pay attention to any symptoms that are experienced after binge drinking. Even if these symptoms go away quickly, they should be considered a warning sign that you are at an increased risk of recurrent AFib.

Can Afib from Alcohol Go Away?

There is the potential for AFib episodes related to alcohol to go away. If your afib recurrence is only related to drinking and it goes away quickly, then restricted alcohol allowance, or no alcohol intake at all, can allow the heart to return to normal.

Perhaps a more concerning issue is for someone who has been drinking for a long time. In this case, the outlook will be more complicated. Developing alcohol induced AFib over time can lead to structural and electrical changes in the heart that may never be fully reversed.

Even after reducing alcohol intake all the way down to zero, some people will continue to have symptoms. The chances that you will be able to reverse AFIB completely depend on a number of factors, such as the following –

• Duration of alcohol use. The longer you have been abusing alcohol, the more difficult it will be to reverse this condition, even with complete alcohol abstinence.
• Overall heart health. Pre-existing conditions like high blood pressure or valve disease also reduce the likelihood of a full reversal.
• Timing of intervention. The earlier you quit drinking, the greater the chance your heart will have to recover from the damage that has been done.

What the Research Says About Alcohol and AFib

So, what does the research say about reversing alcohol induced AFib? The findings are interesting, although not particularly surprising. Heavy drinkers have been shown to have a higher risk of developing persistent atrial fibrillation than non-drinkers or those who have just two or fewer drinks at a time.

Of course, not drinking at all is the best case, as the alcohol abstinence group in research studies shows a significantly reduced risk of afib. While moderate alcohol intake is not as dangerous to the heart as heavy drinking, it does still increase the overall risk of cardiovascular problems.

Treatment and Management Options for Atrial Fibrillation

Working with healthcare professionals is important if you suspect you are having problems with AFIB. Anyone who knows they are at an elevated risk should at least check in with their doctor to explore the situation more carefully.

There are many tools available to doctors who are helping patients manage AFib successfully. If you are trying to reduce your afib burden with the help of a medical professional, some of the options below may be explored.

Medication

Using medication is often a starting point for dealing with AFib episodes effectively. Drugs can be used to slow the heart rate and control its rhythm. Also, blood thinners can be prescribed as a way to reduce the risk of a clot.

Cardioversion

This is a more significant approach to treatment, but it can make a big difference and reduce the AFib burden for those dealing with this condition. Cardioversion is an electrical shock that resets the heart and gets it back into a normal rhythm. Irregular heart rhythms can often be corrected with this treatment, although the irregular beat may come back and the treatment may need to be repeated periodically.

Catheter Ablation

With this procedure, the misfiring electrical signals in the heart are targeted for correction. While any treatment that targets the heart is inherently serious, this is a minimally invasive process that is safe to complete and can make a big difference in restoring normal heart rhythm.

Lifestyle Changes

Perhaps the biggest piece of the puzzle when managing alcohol induced Afib is making lifestyle changes that will support better cardiovascular health moving forward. Many modifiable risk factors come into the picture here, including managing weight, improving diet, reducing caffeine consumption, and quitting smoking.

Obviously, some of these points will be more applicable than others in your individual case, so working together with your doctor to determine which lifestyle changes should be prioritized is an important starting point.

What Happens to Afib if Alcohol Use Continues?

There is no getting around the fact that continuing to use alcohol while dealing with atrial fibrillation is a dangerous choice.

We know alcohol consumption raises the chances of getting afib in the first place, and continuing to drink despite recurrent afib episodes is only going to lead to more scar tissue and a higher likelihood of future problems from coronary artery disease.

Many Potential Problems

If you continue to drink, there will be a higher risk of catastrophic outcomes like stroke, blood clots, seizures, heart failure, dementia, and death. As you would imagine, these risks get more and more serious as the drinking gets heavier.

Reduced alcohol consumption is critical to improve your health both in the present day and in the future, and getting that alcohol use down to zero would be ideal.

In addition to eliminating alcohol intake, it’s also helpful to incorporate an exercise program. This is something else that can be accomplished with the help of a doctor. Your doctor can recommend an exercise routine that will be safe, given your health condition and medical history.

Quitting Alcohol is Important for Holistic Health Beyond Afib

It’s important in this process to zoom out and think about the many benefits that are available to you if the choice is made to quit alcohol permanently. Quitting alcohol is important for AFIB purposes, to be sure, but there are so many other reasons to embrace this lifestyle moving forward.

If you quit alcohol, you can enjoy better sleep, a stabilized mood, and a boost of energy day after day. There are also fewer health complications to worry about in the future, as your risk of high blood pressure, liver disease, and stroke all go down.

Alcohol is toxic to the body, so everything about your health will be pointing in a better direction when you entirely abstain from drinking.

Other Related Benefits

Your health is first and foremost when thinking about quitting alcohol and improving your Afib symptoms. With that said, you can draw on other things for motivation to keep you on track and moving forward with a sober lifestyle. For example, alcoholic drinks are expensive, so you stand to save a lot of money by not drinking.

Alcohol is also known for taking a toll on relationships in your life, meaning those around you will likely appreciate this change. If you can effectively manage sobriety with the help of professionals and others around you, life will look much brighter moving forward.

Get Support at Purpose to Stop Drinking Alcohol Today

Regardless of the specifics of your current health challenges, there is no question that leaving alcohol behind will make things better. Excessive alcohol consumption takes a toll on your body, one drink at a time. Leave that lifestyle behind and open up the possibility of a much brighter future.

At Purpose Healing Center, we think everyone should receive the treatment they need to break an addiction to alcohol or drugs. For that reason, we are happy to accept AHCCCS as well as most insurance policies in-network.

Don’t assume that rehab is too expensive or out of reach for some other reason. Instead, give us a call now to talk about our services and enter treatment right away.

A healthier life is within reach, so please reach out confidentially now!