Alcoholism can lead to serious health problems including pancreatitis, cirrhosis of the liver, heart disease and kidney disease. However, drinking a moderate amount of alcohol may actually have benefits, especially pertaining to your heart. Evidence indicates that moderate alcohol consumption reduces risk factors associated with heart disease.
Hypertension
Hypertension, or high-blood pressure, impairs blood vessel function and leads to the hardening of arteries over time. This can disrupt blood and nutrient flow to your heart and increase your risk for health problems. Scientists at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School discovered that moderate alcohol consumption among women was associated with a decreased risk of hypertension, whereas heavy alcohol consumption increased their risk. The findings were reported in the March 2002 issue of the "Archives of Internal Medicine."
HDL Cholesterol
Moderate alcohol consumption may increase your high-density, or HDL, cholesterol levels, which might improve your heart health, according to a study at Rockefeller University. HDL cholesterol removes bad cholesterol from artery walls and keeps arteries healthy. Scientists reported in the November 2000 issue of "Circulation" that study participants who drank a moderate amount of alcohol experienced increases in HDL levels.
C-reactive Protein
C-reactive is an indicator of heart disease. Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School examined the effects of alcohol on C-reactive protein levels in the blood. They discovered that moderate alcohol consumption was associated with lower levels of C-reactive protein, compared with nondrinkers and heavy drinkers. The research was published in the October 2003 issue of "Circulation."
Heart Disease Risk
Scientists at the University of Calgary in Canada reviewed the literature regarding the effect of alcohol consumption on markers associated with heart disease, including HDL cholesterol, adiponectin and fibrinogen. They reported in the February 2011 issue of the "British Medical Journal" that moderate alcohol consumption increases HDL cholesterol and adiponectin and decreases fibrinogen levels, all of which lower heart disease risk.
References
- "Archives of Internal Medicine"; Prospective Study of Moderate Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Hypertension in Young Women; R. Thadhani et al.; March 2002
- "Circulation"; Alcohol Consumption Raises HDL Cholesterol Levels By Increasing the Transport Rate of Apolipoproteins A-l and A-ll; E.R. De Oliveira E Sliva et al.; November 2000
- "Circulation"; Alcohol Consumption and Plasma Concentration of C-Reactive Protein; M.A. Albert et al.; October 2002
- "British Medical Journal"; Effect of Alcohol Consumption on Biological Markers Asscoiated with Risk of Coronary Heart Disease: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Interventional Studies; S.E. Brien et al.; February 2011
