How Exactly Does Excessive Alcohol Consumption Weaken Your Heart?

[Henrietta]

I'm a bit worried about my alcohol intake as yesterday i i downed a whole litre of bacardi and was told that constant drinking like that weakens your heart? How?

[joggerjayne]

A litre of Bacardi ??

Holy crap !!!

[douglas9401]

I've no idea but good for you being able to remember anything after a stunt like that.

[bednobs]

More than 35 units a week, or a large number in one sitting, can cause 'holiday heart syndrome'. This is atrial fibrillation - a rapid, irregular heartbeat that happens when the heart's upper chambers contract too quickly. As a result, the heartbeat is less effective at pumping blood from the heart, and blood may pool and form clots. These can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. Atrial fibrillation gives a person nearly a fivefold increased risk of stroke.

[sandyRoe]

At that rate of drinking you needn't worry about weakening your heart. Your liver will give out long before it does.
How often do you drink like that?

[bednobs]

from google

[beejay1124]

only a litre-as long as you didnt overdo things...

[Henrietta]

I know it's terrible. Once i start i can't stop but the litre was drunk from roughly 3pm until 1am so over 10 hours or so and i do this about once a week but usually vodka. Looks like after next week i'll hit the wagon :(

[joggerjayne]

I feel a bit p1ssed just reading this !!

[sandyRoe]

When I drank, once I started I couldn't stop either.

[chrissa1]

The best advice I can give you is, don't start then Henrietta. It Will kill you.

[Khandro]

I remember Ronnie Corbet telling of a party game, where someone was asked to sit in the middle of the room, drink a bottle of whiskey, and then say who he was.

[chrissa1]

It must have been a "well-heeled" party Khandro.

[bert_h]

SandyRoe is right - consumption like that is going to wreck your liver long before you have time to see any other ill-effects. If you can't stop, get some help.

[boxtops]

good grief. You need to stop doing that. If you have to drink, don't buy litre bottles :-(

[Canary42]

If you stop now your liver may repair all the damage, if you carry on, then bye bye Henrietta.

[wildwood]

My doctor told me to watch my drinking, so now I drink in front of a mirror.

[Henrietta]

Well thanks for the concerns and advice and sadly it looks like next weekend will be my last drink :(

What i'll do to pass the time and stave off boredom is anyone's guess :(

[chrissa1]

I'm sorry but that doesn't sound very convincing Henrietta. I hope you mean it.

[murraymints]

You need to occupy your mind ..read...do crossies...come on here....spring clean....go for walks...visit friends...garden...come to Edinburgh and do mine...I also would like my ironing done and Windows cleaned !!!! Anything to keep you distracted and away from the bottle...

[aelmpvw]

you can't be bored after a litre of bacardi but you can be boring