Light drinkers are less likely to suffer heart problems, study finds
A wine a day really keeps the doctor at bay: Light drinkers are less likely to have heart problems, study finds
- Scientists studied brain scans of 754 people taken for cancer surveillance
- It is the first study to demonstrate the long-term neurobiological effects of alcohol
It’s news most of us want to raise a glass to.
Drinking an occasional drink reduces stress, which is linked to heart attack and stroke, research suggests.
Women who drink up to one alcoholic drink per day and men who drink up to two had a lower risk of cardiovascular problems than those who drank more or abstained.
While previous research has suggested it may have a protective effect, this is the first time scientists think they’ve cracked down on the physiological cause.
They found that regular low levels of alcohol lead to long-term reductions in stress signaling in the brain, which are associated with heart attack and stroke.
Scientists found that women who drink up to one alcoholic drink a day and men who consume up to two have a lower risk of cardiovascular problems than those who drank more or were teetotallers
Experts hope this means they can develop treatments to mimic alcohol’s protective cardiac effects without the adverse effects, such as cancer, diabetes and obesity.
Researchers studied data involving more than 50,000 Americans before examining brain scans of 754 people, which were taken primarily for cancer surveillance.
The brain imaging showed that those who drink moderately had reduced stress signaling in the amygdala, the brain region associated with stress responses.
When the researchers looked at the history of cardiovascular events of these individuals, they found fewer heart attacks and strokes among light to moderate drinkers.
While alcohol has long been known to reduce the amygdala’s response to threatening stimuli while drinking, this is the first to point to longer-term neurobiological effects.
Dr. Ahmed Tawakol, cardiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and senior author, said: ‘We found that brain changes in light to moderate drinkers explained a significant portion of the protective cardiac effects.
“When the amygdala is too alert and vigilant, the sympathetic nervous system is heightened, which raises blood pressure and heart rate, and triggers the release of inflammatory cells.”
“If the stress is chronic, the result is hypertension, increased inflammation and a significant risk of obesity, diabetes and cardiovascular disease.”
The effect was particularly pronounced in people predisposed to a chronically higher stress response, with moderate drinking associated with almost double the heart-protective effect in individuals with a history of anxiety compared to others.
However, this effect was negated when people drank more while those who consumed more than the 14 recommended units per week had an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, while overall brain activity began to decrease.
In the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, the authors write that research should focus on finding new interventions that reduce stress activity in the brain.
Professor Naveed Sattar, professor of metabolic medicine at the University of Glasgow, said the findings should not be seen as the green light for alcohol.
He said: ‘The problem is that we know that any amount of alcohol is associated with more strokes and heart failure, and with an increase in cancer and deaths from cardiovascular causes.
“So to focus on just one small aspect, even if it is true, gives the wrong impression and the title of better heart health with light to moderate alcohol is misleading and perpetuates old myths that we really need to stop. ‘
DO YOU DRINK TOO MUCH ALCOHOL? THE 10 QUESTIONS THAT REVEAL YOUR RISK
A screening tool commonly used by medical professionals is the AUDIT (Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Tests). The 10-question test, developed in conjunction with the World Health Organization, is considered the gold standard for helping determine whether someone is abusing alcohol.
The test is reproduced here with permission from the WHO.
To complete it, answer each question and record the corresponding score.
YOUR SCORE:
0-7: You are within the limits of sensible drinking and have a low risk of alcohol-related problems.
More than 8: Indicate harmful or dangerous drinking.
8-15: Medium risk level. If you drink at your current level, you risk having problems with your health and life in general, such as work and relationships. Consider cutting down (see below for tips).
16-19: Higher risk of complications from alcohol. Cutting back on your own can be difficult at this level as you may be dependent, so you may need professional help from your GP and/or a counselor.
20 and older: Possible dependency. Your drinking is already causing problems and you could very well be dependent. You should definitely consider stopping gradually or at least drinking less. You should seek professional help to determine your dependency and the safest way to stop drinking.
Severe dependence may require medically assisted weaning or detox in a hospital or specialist clinic. This is due to the potential for severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms in the first 48 hours that require specialist treatment.