Alcoholism and Heart Disease

Many people who consume alcohol are unaware of the significant and widely varied effects that alcohol consumption can have on the body in a variety of ways. According the American Heart Association, drinking excessive amounts of alcohol both raises blood pressure and triglycerides, putting a person at an increased risk for heart disease and stroke.

Benefits of Alcohol on the Heart

Not all alcohol usage is bad or even harmful to your health. Studies have shown that those who consume a moderate amount of alcohol (an average of one or two drinks a day for women and men respectively) can raise HDL (“good”) cholesterol, reducing arteriole inflammation and oxidation. Moderate consumption of certain types of alcohol can also reduce inflammation and slows down the body’s aging process. Alcohol also has as an anticoagulant effect, reducing a person’s risk for blood clots and stroke. Moderate alcohol consumption can decrease a person’s risk for stroke by 25 percent.

Negative Effects of Excessive Alcohol Use

When people continuously exceed the recommended consumption, (or engage in binge drinking), they will start to experience the negative effects of alcohol. Repeated excess consumption (more than 12 to 15 drinks per week) puts users at an increased risk for addiction. How a person reacts to alcohol is an individualized thing. Factors include the following:

• Gender. Research also shows that alcohol remains in a woman’s body for longer periods of time because the female body metabolizes alcohol differently because of different levels of particular liver enzymes.
• Age. As you age, your body becomes less efficient at metabolizing alcohol and the effects you experience are more dramatic.
• Physical size. Individuals at a higher body weight generally have more water in their bodies and can therefore consume more alcohol before experiencing the effects.

Risks of Alcoholism and Heart Disease

People who continuously engage in heavy drinking or binge drinking are at risk for the following types of cardiovascular and respiratory problems:

• Heart disease
• High blood pressure
• Alcoholic cardiomyopathy (enlarged and weakened heart)
• Congestive heart failure
• Stroke

Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy

Cardiomyopathy describes a medical condition where the myocardium (heart muscle) deteriorates and is unable to pump blood efficiently. Intrinsic cardiomyopathy has a direct cause. In the case of alcoholism, alcohol abuse directly affects the deterioration of the heart muscle. Cardiomyopathy can cause arrhythmia or sudden heart failure resulting in death.

Treatment Help for Alcoholism

Please call our toll-free number if you or someone you love is struggling with alcohol abuse or alcoholism. Our operators are available 24 hours a day to answer questions and discuss your alcohol treatment help options with you.