Binge Drinking and Heart Disease

New research published in the journal Circulation suggested that binge-drinking at least six cocktails in one night can increase the risk for cardiovascular complications including heart attacks or strokes for up to seven days. According to the analysis, even one drink seems to increase the odds for cardiovascular problems over the next 24 hours when compared with abstinence; however, after the initial 24 hour period, habitual moderate drinkers (2-4 beverages each day) seemed to actually experience a lower risk of the same problems over the next week compared to those who drank nothing at all. “The impact of alcohol on your risk of heart attacks and strokes depends on how much and how often you drink,” said lead study author Elizabeth Mostofsky of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston. Current public health recommendations advise consumption of no more than two drinks per day for men and no more than one drink per day for non-pregnant women.

New research published in the journal Circulation suggested that binge-drinking at least six cocktails in one night can increase the risk for cardiovascular complications including heart attacks or strokes for up to seven days. According to the analysis, even one drink seems to increase the odds for cardiovascular problems over the next 24 hours when compared with abstinence; however, after the initial 24 hour period, habitual moderate drinkers (2-4 beverages each day) seemed to actually experience a lower risk of the same problems over the next week compared to those who drank nothing at all. “The impact of alcohol on your risk of heart attacks and strokes depends on how much and how often you drink,” said lead study author Elizabeth Mostofsky of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health in Boston. Current public health recommendations advise consumption of no more than two drinks per day for men and no more than one drink per day for non-pregnant women.