From Moderate Drinking to Heavy Drinking: How Does Alcohol 'Affect' Your Heart Health?

From Moderate Drinking to Heavy Drinking: How Does Alcohol 'Affect' Your Heart Health?
  • Alcohol probably doesn't harm your heart, and some studies have even found heart benefits if you drink in moderation, although these results are inconsistent.
  • The American Heart Association recommends no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men.
  • Research has shown that drinking too much alcohol can lead to high blood pressure, an increased heart rate, and an increased risk of certain heart conditions.
  • From Moderate Drinking to Heavy Drinking: How Does Alcohol 'Affect' Your Heart Health?
The effect of alcohol on your heart largely depends on how much you drink. The American Heart Association recommends no more than one drink per day for women and two for men.

    If you "go beyond" this point, you will start to lose your "health" and then trade "benefit" for "damage"! !

    The effect of moderate alcohol consumption on heart

    According to a 2017 study published in Journal of American College of Cardiology, drinking in moderation can protect your heart.

    The study showed that men who drank less than 14 drinks per week had a 21% lower risk of death from cardiovascular disease, and women who drank less than 7 drinks per week had a risk of death from cardiovascular diseases. vascular diseases was lower by 34%.

    From Moderate Drinking to Heavy Drinking: How Does Alcohol 'Affect' Your Heart Health?

    The key is moderation, no one ever advises patients to start drinking alcohol for cardiovascular benefits, but a person who drinks a glass of wine with dinner can continue to enjoy this "benefit".

    However, when you drink alcohol, your heart rate increases, as does your blood pressure. A 2019 study found that even moderate alcohol consumption—between 7 and 13 drinks per week—increases risk of high blood pressure. Moderate drinkers were 53% more likely than those who never drank. The main risk factor for hypertension stage 1 heart disease.

    From Moderate Drinking to Heavy Drinking: How Does Alcohol 'Affect' Your Heart Health?

    Furthermore, additional research has questioned health benefits of alcohol for heart. A 2018 study published in The Lancet analyzed data from 195 countries and concluded that "the safest level of alcohol consumption is zero".

    Drinking too much alcohol can damage your heart

    Most of negative effects of drinking on heart are associated with heavy drinking or binge drinking, which, according to National Institutes of Health, is more than four standard and five drinks of alcohol per day.

    Drinking alcohol can increase blood pressure and heart rate. A 2018 study found that women who drink heavily are three times more likely to develop high blood pressure, and men and women who drink heavily are 70 percent more likely to develop high blood pressure.

    Also, more you drink, higher your heart rate will be. Elevated heart rate can contribute to atrial fibrillation (AFib), an irregular heart rhythm that increases risk of stroke and heart failure. Alcohol consumption has been associated with an increased risk of developing atrial fibrillation, even at moderate levels. Alcohol abuse can also lead to heart disease.

    From Moderate Drinking to Heavy Drinking: How Does Alcohol 'Affect' Your Heart Health?

    Finally, in 2017, National Institutes of Health estimated that heavy drinkers were 1.5 times more likely to have a stroke than abstainers.

    The benefits of red wine can be exaggerated.

    Red wine is said to be good for heart. "Despite a lot of media coverage, whole story is much more complicated." For example, drinking more red wine doesn't usually lead to a healthier heart, says American Heart Association.

    From Moderate Drinking to Heavy Drinking: How Does Alcohol 'Affect' Your Heart Health?

    However, red wine has antioxidant properties and contains flavonoids, molecules that may promote heart health. Published in American Journal of Clinical Nutrition in 2017: moderate alcohol consumption has been found to have a positive effect on cholesterol levels, especially wine increases cholesterol levels. Good cholesterol, which is an indicator of heart health.

    There are healthier ways to take advantage of antioxidants and flavonoids rich in almonds, berries, apples, citrus fruits, spinach, black and green tea (or dark chocolate).

    All studies that come to different conclusions can be contradictory and can be confusing. However, there is one obvious, true conclusion: Drinking a lot of alcohol can harm your heart health!