Alcohol is consumed on a large scale throughout the world. In almost all parties, big events it is served, we can say that nowadays without it a party can not be considered complete. Besides this, most people consume it daily or a few days a week. It is consumed widely, does not mean it is a healthy choice, on the contrary, it is found that it can affect our health adversely. For example, its regular consumption may damage your heart and can affect the functioning of other vital organs like the kidneys. Let us see how it affects the heart and is there any benefit of alcohol consumption.
Effects of Alcohol on Heart
The effect of alcohol on our heart health depends on the amount and frequency of its consumption. So, it can have short-term or long-term effects on heart health.
1. Short Term Effects
a. Increased Heart Rate: This condition is also called Tachycardia. When someone consumes alcohol in large quantities in a short interval, it tends to increase the heart rate.
b. High Blood Pressure: When consumed quickly in large amounts, it may increase blood pressure for a short duration.
c. Irregular Heartbeat: It is also called arrhythmias. In this case, when alcohol is consumed in large amounts, the heart tends to beat rapidly and irregularly and it can cause arrhythmias such as atrial fibrillation.
d. Dilated Blood Vessels: It is also a short-lived effect of alcohol. In this case, alcohol causes blood vessels to dilate or expand, by acting as a vasodilator.
2. Long-Term Effects
Chronic: High Blood Pressure: When consumed regularly, alcohol causes increased blood pressure (hypertension). This chronic rise in blood pressure is a major cause of various heart issues including kidney disorders.
Cardiomyopathy: In this case, regular alcohol consumption weakens the heart muscles and causes them to lose their ability to pump blood effectively which may lead to heart failure.
Heart Stroke: The combination of high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat and weak heart muscles due toregular heavy drinking tends to increase the risk of heart stroke.Increased Level of Cholesterol and Triglycerides: Regular heavy alcohol intake may lead to unhealthy lipid profiles including high levels of triglycerides which may increase the chances of heart diseases.
Inflammation and Heart Disease: Regular alcohol intake may cause chronic inflammation, which is a major cause for the development of hardening of arteries (atherosclerosis) including coronary artery disorders.
Alcohol and Specific Heart Disorders
Atrial Fibrillation: It is found that even moderate alcohol consumption can cause atrial fibrillation, which usually makes one more prone to heart stroke.
Heart Failure: People who are prone to heart failure should refrain from consuming alcohol as it may worsen their condition. Similarly, those who are suffering from congenital heart health issues should avoid alcohol as it may worsen their condition.
Effect of Moderate Drinking on Heart Health
In some studies, moderated drinking is found to have a protective effect against heart diseases. Moderate drinking means one drink in a day for women and up to two drinks in a day for men. This positive effect of alcohol is owing to its antioxidant effects and ability to increase levels of good HDL. However, this protective effect is mainly found in middle-aged adults and may not be beneficial for all.
Important Points to Consider:
We should be wise enough not to use the protective effect of moderated drinking as an excuse to start consuming alcohol. The health risks of alcohol consumption are more than this one benefit of protective effect which is also not applicable for all.
Further, even moderate drinking can be harmful for someone with underlying health conditions or having a family history of alcoholism or heart-related health issues.
Conclusion
It may be true that moderate alcohol consumption provides some health benefits for some people, but excessive regular intake is going to harm and is detrimental to your heart, kidneys, etc. The quantity and intake of alcohol should be under control and those who are suffering from heart conditions may avoid alcohol completely. This post is only for information purposes, it is best to consult your doctor if you have any doubt about alcohol consumption and its effects on the heart and other organs.
