Holiday heart syndrome: Here's everything to know about festive illness

It is likely that you or your guests may suffer from "holiday heart syndrome" during holiday parties and family get-togethers, which is an illness that is caused by excessive alcohol consumption.

If you intend to celebrate the holidays with a few glasses of wine, the following is what you need to know about holiday heart syndrome.

Even if it might be more complicated than that, the National Library of Medicine (NLM) said that holiday heart syndrome could be caused by the relationship between excessive alcohol use, high levels of stress, and dehydration.

"If you get holiday heart syndrome, here's how it'll feel: One moment, you'll be chatting with relatives, refilling your glass, and nibbling on apps or dessert. In the next moment, you may feel shortness of breath, chest pain, dizziness, or heart palpitations (a feeling that your heart is beating faster than usual)," Dr Regina S Druz told Health, adding that people can even feel lightheaded or pass out.

The only surefire approach to prevent the terrible symptoms of this syndrome is to abstain from alcohol entirely, as it is the cause of the condition.

"There's no known number of drinks that will lead to holiday heart since every individual's tolerance differs," Dr Druz added. 

"Some behaviors, however, are known to increase the likelihood of arrhythmia when combined with alcohol," She noted — like not being properly hydrated or indulging in rich foods.