Alcohol's impact on heart health under scrutiny
Alcohol and Heart Health: Understanding the Risks
Alcohol consumption can have a significant impact on heart health and blood pressure, even at low levels. According to recent studies, the benefits of light to moderate drinking, once thought to be protective, may instead be related to other factors [1][3][4][5].
The Risks of Alcohol on Heart Health
Alcohol can lead to elevated blood pressure, irregular heart rhythms (arrhythmias), cardiomyopathy (weakened heart muscle), coronary artery disease, and adverse changes in triglycerides and cholesterol. Heavy drinking notably worsens these risks, but even light to moderate drinking has been found to increase cardiovascular risk [1][3][4][5].
High blood pressure, in particular, is a concern. Alcohol can cause spikes that raise the chance of heart attacks and strokes. For people with elevated blood pressure (systolic 130–139 mm Hg), current guidelines recommend avoiding alcohol to better control blood pressure and reduce cardiovascular risks [2].
Recommended Alcohol Limits
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest that adults should limit their alcohol intake to no more than one standard drink per day for women and no more than two standard drinks per day for men. These limits are reaffirmed to minimize cardiovascular risks, especially blood pressure elevation and heart disease. For individuals with high blood pressure, complete abstinence is advised to achieve better blood pressure control [2].
Groups Advised to Avoid Alcohol
Some groups of people are advised to avoid drinking alcohol altogether, including pregnant women, those with a history of alcohol abuse, and those with certain medical conditions such as high blood pressure, angina, blood clots, high cholesterol, and those taking medications like isosorbide, warfarin, quinapril, verapamil, hydrochlorothiazide, doxazosin, clonidine, lovastatin, niacin, rosuvastatin, atorvastatin, and those who have a condition that prevents them from controlling how much they drink [6].
Impact of Alcohol on the Cardiovascular System
Alcohol affects the cardiovascular system by activating the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS), impairing endothelial function, and causing vasoconstriction. Excessive alcohol intake could increase the risk of coronary artery disease (CAD) and heart attack [7].
Conclusion
In summary, alcohol harms heart health primarily by increasing blood pressure, causing heart muscle damage, and contributing to artery disease, with no safe level identified. Adults are recommended to keep intake within low limits or avoid alcohol if they have hypertension [1][2][3][4][5]. For those with heart conditions or other chronic health issues, it is best to avoid alcohol or, at the very least, drink excessively. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggests that adults who do not drink alcohol should avoid starting, if possible, as newer research indicates that drinking alcohol, even within the recommended limits, could increase the risk of several types of cancer and cardiovascular disease.
- Alcohol's impact on heart health isn't limited to high levels of consumption, as light to moderate drinking can also increase cardiovascular risk.
- High blood pressure is a specific concern with alcohol, as it can cause spikes that raise the risk of heart attacks and strokes.
- Hypertension and BPH drug users are advised to avoid alcohol because it can interact adversely with these medications.
- Science and medical-conditions have shown that alcohol can lead to various heart problems, including arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, and coronary artery disease.
- In the context of health-and-wellness, fitness-and-exercise, mental-health, and nutrition, alcohol consumption can adversely affect one's cardiovascular health.
- Adhering to the Recommended Alcohol Limits, set by the Dietary Guidelines for Americans, can help minimize cardiovascular risks, particularly blood pressure elevation and heart disease.
