All of the above drinks contain about the same amount of alcohol, despite their different sizes. Depending on the recipe, a mixed drink may contain one, two, or more standard drinks, as shown in a cocktail content calculator from the National Institutes of Health (see /cocktail). Intriguingly, alcohol‑free beer has shown small benefits for endothelial function, likely due to polyphenols minus ethanol. If you crave the ritual fizz, a 0.0 percent lager might scratch the itch without the cardiac toll—see the taste‑test in our piece on alcohol‑free beer. If you’re taking a medicine that directly affects your liver, such as statins, it’s particularly important not to drink more than the recommended amount, as this could cause even more damage. There are safer and healthier ways to protect and strengthen your heart, including doing more physical activity, keeping to a healthy weight and stopping smoking.
Consistent with earlier studies, the light and moderate drinkers had the lowest heart disease risk (even better than people who abstained from drinking). “Instead, most research has found that, in general, people who drink moderate amounts of alcohol often have a lower risk of cardiovascular disease.” A 2022 study notes that while some evidence indicates a potential cardioprotective benefit of light to moderate alcohol intake, these benefits may instead relate to other factors.
It also notes that excessive alcohol intake could also increase the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and heart attack. Some indicate alcohol protects against cardiovascular disease, including heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. It now appears that alcohol is not the healthy elixir once thought. Growing evidence suggests that not only won’t alcohol lower your risk for cardiovascular disease, but consuming moderate amounts may even increase it. The study also revealed large differences in cardiovascular risk across the spectrum of alcohol consumption.
Managing Atrial Fibrillation: How to prevent stroke and heart damage from this common arrhythmia
However, evidence suggests an association between consuming alcohol and problems with the cardiovascular system. Some claim switching to vodka “for the purity” spares the heart. Ethanol is ethanol; your myocardium cannot differentiate source. What does vary is serving size deception—one cocktail may equal two or three units. Researchers at Monash University (2024) branded cocktails “stealth bombs” after observing patrons underestimate them by 40 percent.
If you’re an occasional drinker, there’s no cause for worry. But it may be worthwhile learning about what counts as binge drinking and whether or not you may be drinking too much and don’t even know it. The recommended limits outlined in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans are two drinks per day for males and one drink per day for females. Alcohol, in particular, can increase the risk of several conditions that fall under the term CVD. Read on to learn more about the effect of alcohol on heart health. The effect of alcohol on cardiovascular health is complicated.
Myth 4: “Spirits Are Safer Than Beer/Wine”
So even if you don’t have any alcohol during the week, you shouldn’t save all of your drinking for the weekend and overdo it. It’s important to check with your doctor before you start drinking alcohol after heart surgery. If it’s not treated, over time high blood pressure can lead to fatty material (plaques) building up in the arteries, which increases the risk of a heart attack or stroke. From raising blood pressure to increasing the risk of a heart attack, drinking too much alcohol can have a serious impact on your heart. For example, some people who are on cholesterol-lowering medicines may experience muscle aches when they drink alcohol.
- Binge drinking (drinking a large amount of alcohol in one go) can also have a serious impact on your health.
- What does vary is serving size deception—one cocktail may equal two or three units.
- It is important to note that there is no causal link to suggest that drinking, even moderately, contributes to better heart health.
- In fact, some health experts argue that a glass of red wine a day could offer some cardiovascular benefits.
- There’s a way to have a healthy, balanced relationship with alcohol that lets you enjoy a drink occasionally and celebrate with friends and family.
Top doctors in ,
That means, if you’re living with other medical conditions and/or taking certain medications, this will all have an impact on how alcohol affects you. Alcohol by volume (ABV) is a measure of how much alcohol is in a given drink. Drinks with a higher concentration of alcohol have a higher ABV. The size of a serving — as set by the Department of Agriculture — depends on how strong that drink is. The World Heart Federation (WHF) is an umbrella organisation representing the global cardiovascular community, uniting patient, scientific and civil society groups. Together with its Members, WHF influences policies, shares knowledge and inspires behaviour change to achieve heart health for everyone.
To get any health benefits from alcohol, keep your drinking light. Heavy drinking can make you more likely to get serious health problems like liver disease, cancer, and peptic ulcers, among others. Regular or high alcohol use can hurt your heart and lead to diseases of the heart muscle, called cardiomyopathy. Drinking alcohol regularly also can raise your blood pressure.
Alcohol and heart disease: what are the risks?
Looking closer, the research team found that as a group, light to moderate drinkers had healthier habits than abstainers. In general, they were more physically active, ate more vegetables and less red meat, and didn’t smoke. Drinking alcohol is a common trigger of abnormal heart rhythms, such as atrial fibrillation. You may find cutting down or not drinking at all can help to improve your symptoms. If you have already been diagnosed with a heart condition, speak to your doctor about whether it’s safe for you to drink alcohol.
Alcohol and blood pressure
- Through lifestyle changes, including reducing alcohol intake and incorporating exercise into his routine, Michael was able to manage his condition more effectively and improve his overall heart health.
- So, it’s important to think about your overall health and talk to a healthcare provider about your personal risk factors.
- Researchers looked at 371,463 adults who consumed an average of nine standard alcoholic drinks per week (see image).
- If you have already been diagnosed with a heart condition, speak to your doctor about whether it’s safe for you to drink alcohol.
- A compound found in red wine called resveratrol has been shown to have antioxidant properties that might protect the heart and blood vessels from damage.
- If you’re counting units for heart health, clarity beats craft‑cocktail romance.
Whether it’s a glass of red wine with your turkey or toasting champagne for the new year, alcohol definitely becomes more present during the holiday season. And while enjoying celebratory spirits in moderation is facts about alcohol and heart health alright for most people, it’s important to be aware you can fall victim to holiday heart syndrome if you overdo it. This is when overeating and overindulging in alcohol lead to an irregular heartbeat. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults of legal drinking age try to avoid drinking alcohol if possible. But if a person decides to start drinking, they should consume it within the recommended limits.
Moderate drinking typically refers to up to one drink per day for women and up to two drinks per day for men. Overconsumption can quickly nullify any potential positive effects and lead to harmful outcomes. The research, conducted on mice, found that binge drinking-related arrhythmias are linked to increased levels of a stress-induced protein called JNK2. This protein causes heart cells to mishandle calcium and misfire, resulting in rapid or irregular heartbeats. Moderate drinking — one drink a day for women and two for men — appears to protect some people against heart disease. The eight-week study compared menopausal rats given regular alcohol exposure to those given both alcohol and estrogen replacement.
How does alcohol affect the heart and blood pressure?
It’s also important to know that the ways in which alcohol affects your heart will vary from person to person, depending on your age and other conditions you may have. Get started today before this once in a lifetime opportunity expires. If you’re worried, speak to your GP or get in touch with a drink awareness charity. Alcohol also causes damage to the liver over time, especially if you drink too much. Sign up to our fortnightly Heart Matters newsletter to receive healthy recipes, new activity ideas, and expert tips for managing your health. That’s about 4 pints of normal strength beer (4 per cent ABV) for men or 3 pints for women.
