During
the National Day holiday, it's a rare chance to gather together. We indulge in
sumptuous meals, desserts, and drinks, and before we know it, our stomachs are
bloated and we're belching from overeating.
Most people believe that there are only a few occasions a year when they can indulge a bit, and it's okay to occasionally overeat; at most, it will just cause a bloated stomach.
But! It's really not!
Shu Yue, director of the Cardiac Rehabilitation Department at Hainan Chengmei Hospital, reminds that overeating and overdrinking during holidays, as well as eating to excess at every meal, may seem like indulging in food and drink, but in reality, it is quietly depleting heart health. It is also a major cause of palpitations, chest tightness, and sudden cardiovascular discomfort during the National Day holiday.
Eating is obviously a matter for the stomach, so why would it damage the heart?
Many people have a misconception: eating too much will at most lead to indigestion and indigestion, which has nothing to do with the heart.
Director Shu Yue explained that the internal organs of the human body are interconnected. Eating too much at once is equivalent to forcing the heart to "work overtime beyond its capacity". These three harms are particularly direct!
1️⃣ The heart is forced to "pump blood overtime" at high intensity
After a large amount of food enters the intestines and stomach, the digestive system requires a huge amount of blood to complete digestion and metabolism.
The body will automatically allocate a large amount of blood to the gastrointestinal tract. At this time, the heart must beat faster and pump harder to ensure blood supply balance throughout the body.
Plus, most of the meals during the National Day holiday are high in oil, salt, and fat, which can increase blood viscosity and double the burden on the heart.
2️⃣ Stomach bloating squeezes the chest and compresses the space for the heart
The fuller you are, the more pronounced the gastric expansion becomes, which can push up the diaphragm and compress the chest. As the chest space becomes smaller, the heart cannot expand and contract normally, making it prone to myocardial ischemia and hypoxia.
This is also the fundamental reason why many people experience chest tightness, shortness of breath, breathlessness, palpitations, and heart palpitations after a heavy meal.
3️⃣ Inducing arrhythmia, posing a hidden risk of acute illness
Overeating can stimulate nervous system disorders in the body, easily inducing coronary artery spasm and arrhythmia.
Director Shu Yue emphasized that for individuals with poor vascular health or underlying heart conditions, a heavy meal can serve as a trigger for angina pectoris or myocardial infarction.
⚠️ These groups of people should definitely not overeat!
During the National Day dinner, the aforementioned groups must restrain themselves and adhere to the principle of eating until 70% full!
People with the "three highs" (high blood pressure, high blood sugar, and high cholesterol), coronary heart disease, and arteriosclerosis: their blood vessels and hearts are inherently fragile, and overeating can easily exacerbate their conditions and trigger emergencies
Elderly people: their cardiopulmonary function and vascular elasticity decline, and their tolerance is extremely low, so they cannot afford overeating or overdrinking
Young people who are obese, sedentary, and stay up late: their hearts are in a sub-healthy state, and a momentary indulgence may trigger sudden cardiac discomfort
Warm warning: Pay immediate attention to these symptoms
If you experience chest tightness, palpitations, a sense of pressure in your chest, cold sweat, shortness of breath, fatigue, dizziness, or discomfort after a meal, do not dismiss it as ordinary indigestion!
It is essential to take timely rest and observation. If symptoms persist and do not improve, seek medical attention as soon as possible to rule out any potential issues and prevent minor problems from escalating into emergencies.
Expert Introduction
Shu Yue, Deputy Chief Physician
Director of Cardiac Rehabilitation Department
Hainan Free Trade Port E-type Talent
Medical expertise
Skilled in conventional treatment and cardiac rehabilitation therapy for cardiovascular diseases and critically ill patients; exercise therapy and exercise healthcare for hypertension, hyperglycemia, hyperlipidemia, and heart disease; chronic disease management, cardiorespiratory endurance assessment, and physical fitness training.