Excessive
alcohol consumption can lead to a variety of health problems. The brain,
the muscles and other areas of the body are all at risk when alcohol
enters the bloodstream. But what about the most important of all
internal organs, the heart?
Recently, several medical studies have been published
stating the positive effects of moderate alcohol consumption on the
heart. These reports claim that moderate amounts of drinking can help
protect against heart disease by raising the amount of good cholesterol
in the body and depleting the plaque that builds up around the arteries.
While these studies seem positive on the surface, the
correlation between alcohol and good health remain unclear. In fact,
even those doctors involved in the studies recommend exercise and proper
diet as a better means for caring for the heart (rather than moderate
drinking).
So while there a many reputable scientific studies
which state that moderate alcohol consumption is good for the heart,
these potential positives are FAR outweighed by the negative effects of
heavy drinking on the heart and the surrounding arteries.
Medical experts agree that consuming three or more
drinks per day can have a potentially devastating effect on the human
heart. And over time, heavy drinking can cause several very serious
heart ailments, including:
-
Alcoholic cardiomyopathy. Also known as an
enlarged and weakened heart brought on by alcohol consumption. This is
one of the most common heart-related problems associated with
drinking.
-
Congestive heart failure. Because alcohol
makes the heart act in a more "sluggish" manner, those predisposed
(genetically) for congestive heart failure are more likely to
experience heart problems related to drinking.
-
-
Stroke. Alcohol in heavy doses can cause
hypertension (see below), atrial fibrillation and cardiomyopathy -
three of the major causes of strokes. While this is another area where
some research shows moderate drinking as a way to avoid strokes, there
are still too many negative effects to be ignored.
High blood pressure is a problem among heavy
drinkers. Studies of men and women over the age of 40 show that drinking
4 or more drinks a day makes an individual twice as likely to experience
hypertension. These studies are in line with other reports that link
alcoholism to a variety of severe health problems in adults over the age
of 40.
Another key health concern brought on by heavy
drinking is the lowering of one's blood pressure. Alcohol is what is
known as a vasodilator, meaning that it causes many key blood vessels to
"relax" when consumed. While on the surface this might not sound like
such a bad thing, the relaxation of the blood vessels means more blood
is going to flow through skin and tissues. (Hence the "red faced"
appearance of someone who is intoxicated.) With a larger percentage of
the body getting blood flow, the drinker now experiences lower blood
pressure. This low blood pressure means the heart must work extra-hard
to make sure all the vital organs are receiving proper blood flow. And
as most people know, increased heart rate over time leads to a weakening
of the heart itself.
In a more extreme situation, heavy drinking can also
cause heart rates to drop - which may precede coma or death.
The bottom line is this: while some studies have
correctly shown moderate drinking to have some positive effects on the
heart, the potential long-term effects are MUCH more damaging. Heart
problems brought on by alcohol abuse are insidious - the problems build
up over time during a life spent drinking heavily. Unchecked, the
problem can get worse and worse until it is all but untreatable. So when
you add it all up, the best way to take care of your heart (as it
relates to alcohol) is to bypass drinking altogether.
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