Drinking & You - Alcohol and the Heart

Alcohol and Health - Alcohol the heart

	Alcohol and the heart
	Alcohol and cancer
	Women and Alcohol
	Alcohol and diabetes
	Drinking as you get older?
	Alcohol and it's effects
	Alcohol and allergies
What the Doctor says

Coronary heart disease is the leading cause of death throughout the developed world, accounting for 25-50% of all deaths. For example, in th UK, coronary heart disease accounted fo 150,000 deaths in 2000. Studies are consistently showing that regularly consuming moderate amounts of alcohol reduces mortality from coronary heart disease by between 25 and 30%.

Please visit www.aim-digest.com/gateway/index.htm for specific studies and references

How does alcohol protect my heart?
Alcohol, in any form, favourably alters the balance of fats or lipids in the blood, by stimulating the liver to produce the 'good' high density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL). HDL removes the 'bad' low density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL) from arteries and veins for disposal via the bile, which is referred to as reverse cholesterol transport.

Alcohol also inhibits excessive coagulation or the clotting together of red blood cells by reducing their ‘stickiness’, and facilitates the breakdown of blood clots.

Red wine, dark beer and traditional ciders also contain phenolic compounds. Phenolic compounds also inhibit excessive coagulation and enhance the relaxation of blood vessel walls, allowing better blood flow. Although the phenolic compounds are shown to be antioxidants in the test tube, it is uncertain whether they inhibit the oxidation of LDL cholesterol in animals and humans, and hence prevent the build up of cholesterol in arteries, which is referred to as hardening of the arteries.

Regular moderate alcohol consumption reduces the risk of coronary heart disease and stroke mainly in men aged over 40 years and in post-menopausal women, when the risk factors for coronary heart disease and stroke significantly increase.

The Mediterranean Diet

A recent paper in the New England Journal of Medicine concluded that “greater adherence to the traditional Mediterranean diet is associated with a significant reduction in total mortality” (Trichopoulou et al. 2003). This conclusion, supported by a 30-year follow-up study in seven countries, considered the association between diet and cardiovascular disease and cancer (Farchi et al. 1992, 2000).

Beneficial components of a Mediterranean-style diet include the daily consumption of fruits, vegetables and wine, which typically contain a high concentration of phenolic compounds and are associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease. The amount of wine associated with a reduced risk of cardiovascular disease is generally considered as 2-3 glasses of wine containing 10 g of ethanol per day (Jackson et al. 1992, Palomaki and Kaste 1993).

Conversely, binge drinking, which is considered to be the consumption of more than 6 standard drinks per drinking session, is seen to significantly increase systolic blood pressure, which significantly increases the risk of coronary heart disease or stroke (Hillbom and Kaste 1981, Kozarevic et al. 1983, Hillbom et al. 1984, Donahue et al. 1986, Suhonen et al. 1987, Renaud and Ruf 1996).

Stroke

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the developed world. While heavy alcohol consumption appears to increase the risk of all types of strokes, moderate drinkers have a reduced risk of stroke compared to non-drinkers and heavy drinkers. Ischaemic strokes account for 85% of strokes. They are caused by blockage of a blood vessel by a clot, which starve the brain of blood and hence oxygen. The anti-coagulatory effect of alcohol lasts for approximately 24 hours, and hence regular moderate alcohol consumption is necessary to maintain a reduced the risk of ischaemic stroke.

What the experts say

The National Stroke Association Prevention Advisory Board states that “studies now show that drinking up to two drinks per day can reduce your risk for stroke by about half. More alcohol than this can increase your risk for stroke by as much as three times.”

Please note, however, that drinking heavily significantly increases the risk of a hemorrhagic stroke.

For in-depth information, please visit the AIM-Gateway site at www.aim-digest.com/gateway/

LINKS

British Heart Foundation www.bhf.org.uk
Department of Health www.doh.gov.uk