Alcohol and Cardiac Health

By Emma McIver

Alcohol: detrimental or preventive? You have likely heard both sides of the argument and wonder which to believe.  A study conducted in 2006 monitoring almost 2500 test patients aged 70 to 79 with no prior history of cardiac disease suggests that in moderation, alcohol may have a positive effect on cardiac health. The study monitored the rate of mortality of different groups classified as non-drinkers, light to moderate drinkers (1-7 drinks per week), and heavy drinkers (more than 7 drinks per week) (1). After 5.5 years of follow up, about 15% of the test patients had died from cardiac issues. Each demographic had a different number of deaths, with the most coming from excessive drinkers and the least from moderate drinkers (1). A review conducted in 2009 compiled multiple studies on both the negative and positive effects of alcohol on cardiac health suggested that when people drank a moderate amount of alcohol per week they would experience an increased amount of HDL cholesterol in their system (2). HDL is known to reduce the risk of blockage in arterial walls by removing excess cholesterol. They concluded that consuming about 30g of alcohol per day may decrease the likelihood of developing coronary heart disease by 17% (2).

So what is considered excessive amounts of alcohol, and how does it affect our cardiac health? The Heart and Stroke Foundation suggests that no more than 15 standard drinks per week for men and 10 drinks per week for women should be consumed to minimize both alcohol dependence as well as developing any cardiac issues (3). A standard drink is considered to be either a 341mL glass of 5% beer, a 142 mL glass of 12% wine, or 43mL of 40% spirits (3). Since 1915, researchers have been publishing studies that show a relationship between increased alcohol intake and increased blood pressure (4). Increased blood pressure has the potential to cause many types of heart diseases as well as strokes, and in fact a study conducted in 2011 found that heavy drinkers were at a higher risk of experiencing ischemic strokes (a type of stroke that is caused by the blockage an artery leading to the brain) (4). As well, a study conducted on men aged 50-59 who were classified as heavy drinkers (more than 6 per day) and had no pre-existing heart diseases, were found to have an increased risk of sudden cardiac death by 60% compared to light or non-drinkers (5).

Along with the direct impacts alcohol may have on your cardiac health, it is also important to discuss the effects of drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can have on your physical health and wellbeing. Alcohol is considered a diuretic, which increases the rate of urination without lost water and can lead to dehydration. It is also important to note that the liver is tasked with the breakdown of both alcohols and sugars; therefore, when alcohol is still found in your system, the sugar breakdown increases which means less energy is available for any athlete (6). These two factors combined means that during exercise you will fatigue more quickly and this will result in a less efficient workout (6). This decreased efficiency, if it becomes a common occurrence due to constant excessive drinking, will potentially lead to a decrease in physical fitness. As we all know, physical fitness is very closely linked to cardiac health, so if our physical fitness decreases we are more at risk in developing problems in our cardiac health. Therefore, excessive drinking can cause this negative feedback loop, where our cardiac health is at risk not only from the act of drinking, but as well from the consequences that drinking can have on our physical fitness.

As I am writing this post, I am well aware of the concerning effect this may have. The definition of excessive drinking (remember no more than 10/week for females or 15/week for males) is in fact not that much if you break it down to per day and one may wonder if they are in any real danger with the way they are living their life right now. It is important to note that in the studies cited, the test patients were either alcohol-dependent, prone to frequent binge-drinking, or were of a very mature age and were already quite likely to develop cardiac problems naturally. If you maintain an overall healthy lifestyle that contains healthy eating and frequent exercise than you are already on the right track towards a healthy cardiovascular system and should not be worried if you have one or two glasses of wine at dinner. It is when you excessively drink as well as minimize exercise and frequently eat unhealthily that you have the potential to increase your cardiac disease risk.

 

Bibliography

  1. Maraldi, C.,Volpato, S., Kritchevsy, S., Anderson, E., Harris, T., Newman, A., Kanaya, A., Johnson, K., Fellin, , & Pahor, M. (2006). Alcohol consumption, mortality, and cardiac events: effect of inflammation, the health, aging, and body composition study. Atherosclerosis Supplements 7(3), 317.
  1. Grønbaek, M. (2009) The positive and negative health effects of alcohol- and the public health implications. Journal of Internal Medicine. 25(4), 407-420.
  1. Excessive alcohol consumption.Heart & Stroke Foundation. (2014). Retrieved from
    1. http://www.heartandstroke.com/site/c.ikIQLcMWJtE/b.3484033/k.2811/Heart_disease__Excessive_alcohol_consumption.htm
  1. Hillbom, M.,Saloheimo, P., Juvela, S. (2011) Alcohol Consumption, Blood Pressure, and the Risk of Stroke. Current Hypertension Reports. 13(3). 208-213.
  1. Wannamethee, G., Shaper, A. G. (1992).Alcohol and Sudden Cardiac Death. British Heart Journal. 68(5), 443-448.
  1. World Heart Federation. (2016). Retrieved from http://www.world-heart-federation.org/cardiovascular-health/cardiovascular-disease-risk-factors/hypertension/