Common Causes of Chest Pain After Drinking Alcohol 

Chest pains shouldn’t be ignored. In many cases, they can be nothing worse than indigestion, but they could also indicate something more dangerous.

Drinking heavily will eventually have a lot of consequences on your life, but it will especially damage your health. Alcohol does not only affect your liver but can cause damage to all your organs – including your heart. Chest pains could point towards a more serious issue caused by alcohol.

If you have experienced chest pain after drinking, then you need to educate yourself on what that means. Leaving your drinking problems to worsen will only leave you more at risk of suffering from fatal health issues.

 

Common Causes of Chest Pain After Drinking Alcohol

Chest pain after drinking alcohol can happen for many reasons.

Acid Reflux and GERD

Acid reflux is more commonly known as heartburn. It is something that everyone will experience in life and is caused not solely by alcohol.

Despite the name, acid reflux has nothing to do with the heart but the oesophagus, a long tube in your body that carries food and drink to your stomach from the mouth. Acid reflux happens when your oesophageal sphincter doesn’t work properly and contents from your stomach backs up – causing acid reflux symptoms like chest pain, burping and a sore throat.

GERD stands for gastroesophageal reflux disease and is what you call acid reflux if you experience it chronically. GERD and alcohol are linked as alcohol relaxes the oesophageal sphincter so that it doesn’t close all the way – allowing contents in the stomach to come back. Drinking will also lead you to eat more unhealthily and smoke, which could trigger acid reflux.

To stop GERD, you should cut down on drinking. If that is too much at the moment, then look at other triggers. Eat more slowly, and don’t overeat. Cut down on caffeine and carbonated drinks and try not to sleep on a full stomach.

Heart-Related Issues

Alcohol and heart disease is a real concern if you are suffering from addiction.

Drinking heavily can increase your blood pressure, and if you keep it up, then it will remain high. This is dangerous; high blood pressure can increase the risk of suffering from a stroke or heart attack.

Normally, your heart pumps blood around your body at a low pressure. High blood pressure means that your heart is working harder, putting your arteries under strain. Alcohol can also increase hormones that constrict your arteries, affect the nervous system that helps regulate blood pressure and increase your weight – which puts more strain on your heart.

High blood pressure can lead to arrhythmia, angina and other heart diseases. These conditions contribute to chest pain.

Anxiety and Panic Attacks

Some people drink to relieve stress and the worries they may be feeling. Anxiety and alcohol are related as, eventually, the soothing effects of alcohol will wear off. Soon, drinking locks you in a cycle that can make your anxiety worse.

Alcohol works initially for anxiety because it is a depressant and slows down processes in your body. Soon, though, your body will become used to the alcohol in your central nervous system. When your alcohol level drops after you stop drinking, your body goes into withdrawal.

Anxiety can be a symptom of withdrawal. Being without alcohol may lead to panic attacks. These are an acute attack of anxiety, and chest pains are a symptom. They can be bad enough that some people mistake a panic attack for a cardiac arrest.

Practising mindfulness, eating well and exercising, learning breathing techniques and cutting down on drinking are all things you can do to alleviate anxiety symptoms.

It’s important to know that help is available and you are not alone. Many people suffer from anxiety and alcohol addiction – having mental health problems alongside addiction is known as dual diagnosis. Rehabs provide anxiety treatment, and there are also online resources like Ria Health that can help you.

 

Alcohol and Holiday Heart Syndrome

Drinking alcohol will do damage to your heart in the long term if not treated.

One of the many issues you may face is alcoholic cardiomyopathy. Over time, the toxicity of alcohol will damage your heart muscle. A damaged heart cannot function efficiently, pumping less blood to the rest of your body. As your heart becomes larger to hold the extra blood, this puts a strain on it and your blood vessels.

You will experience chest pains, fatigue, and swelling of the legs, and it will eventually lead to heart failure.

Another issue is Holiday Heart Syndrome. This is a name for irregular heartbeat and is linked to binge drinking. It got the name because people tend to drink more around Christmas and New Year, increasing the risk of heart issues over this time. Chest pains, fatigue, dizziness and breathing difficulties are all symptoms of holiday heart syndrome.

 

What to Do if You’re Experiencing Chest Pains After Drinking Alcohol

When it comes to alcohol and chest pain, there are plenty of things you can do to feel better.

• Moderating Alcohol Intake: You may not be ready for a full detox, but cutting down a little bit should help with chest pain after drinking.
• Stay Hydrated: Drinking water will prevent dehydration, which is what alcohol does. Ensuring hydration means that your body will work efficiently.
• Avoid Triggering Foods: Foods that are fatty, acidic and spicy can worsen chest pains. Think about what foods trigger chest pain after drinking alcohol and try to cut them out.
• Seek Help: Your drinking may be severe enough to need professional intervention. If your chest pain is severe, persistent, or accompanied by other symptoms, you should consider professional help, such as going into an alcohol rehab.

 

Get Help Today with Rehab Clinics Group

Chest pain after drinking may seem like nothing at the time but can be an indication of more serious issues. Knowing the common causes of chest pain after drinking alcohol is important to decide what help you need. Here at Rehab Clinics Group, we can provide the rehabilitation you need, with any one of the private drug and alcohol rehabs in our group capable of capable of helping you.

To start your recovery journey, call us at 08004700382.