Alcohol, even if taken in moderation, contributes to creating a real risk for our heart rhythm
Alcohol, even if taken in moderation, contributes to creating a real risk for our heart rhythm which can also lead to serious consequences for our health
We are often led to consume alcohol lightly, without thinking about the consequences for our health - perhaps it is just a beer to accompany a Saturday night pizza or a cocktail to toast with friends. But now this new study has highlighted how even a small amount of alcohol can represent a risk for the functioning of our heart: the intake of alcohol, in fact, increases the risk of onset of atrial fibrillation - an irregular functioning of our heart, which can cause scarring of the heart muscle tissue and, in severe cases, even heart attack, stroke or death.
A group of researchers from the University of San Francisco conducted a research on 100 volunteers, 79 of them men, between the ages of 60 and 70, to understand the effects of alcohol on heart health (nearly half of the participants had previously had episodes of atrial fibrillation prior to the start of the study). For four weeks, the participants underwent an electrocardiogram and specific tests aimed at measuring blood alcohol levels; in addition, they kept a sort of 'diary' of alcohol consumption, noting every time they consumed alcohol.
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At the end of the observation period, it was found that even one alcoholic drink doubled the participants' risk of an atrial fibrillation event, while two drinks consumed in a four-hour period tripled the risk.
The researchers point out that this study undermines two of the most common beliefs related to alcohol consumption: that moderate but constant consumption is good for heart health and that excessive alcohol intake is necessary to have a negative effect on the heart. Conversely, if we want to keep our hearts functioning and healthy, we should avoid alcohol (of any kind).
Until now, it was believed that atrial fibrillation was an unpredictable or preventable disease, but it is not so - explain the researchers. - There are modifiable conditions that can reduce the risk of incurring this pathology, one of these is our alcohol consumption.
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Fonte: Annals of Internal Medicine
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