THE HEART HEALTHY MODERATE DRINKER

RESEARCHERS AT University College London and Cambridge University found that moderate drinkers are at a lower risk of diseases such as heart attack, angina and heart failure when compared to teetotalers. The study was published in the BRITISH MEDICAL JOURNAL. Described as the “most comprehensive study to date”, the health records of nearly two million people from the “Cardiovascular research using Linked Bespoke studies and Electronic health Records” (CALIBER) program were used in the research, which saw the teams analyze the link between alcohol consumption and 12 different heart ailments.

The researchers found that compared with moderate drinkers, non-drinkers (not including former or occasional drinkers) were more likely to suffer from an increased risk of seven of the 12 diseases (as a first diagnosis): unstable angina, myocardial infarction, unheralded coronary death, heart failure, Ischaemic stroke, peripheral arterial disease and abdominal aortic aneurysm. On the other end, of course, heavy drinkers also put themselves at serious risk of seven of the 12 diseases with higher instances of unheralded coronary death and heart failure. Heavier drinking also carries with it higher risks associated with liver diseases and cancers as the authors noted.