Cardiovascular Effects of Alcohol Consumption

Alcohol, although toxic and damaging if consumed in excess, has been linked to several surprising health benefits, particularly in relation to cardiovascular health. The World Health Organization (WHO) asserts that a relationship between moderate alcohol consumption and reduced death rates from heart disease can no longer be doubted. Red wine is particularly favorable as the type of alcohol imbibed because it contains polyphenol antioxidants. Polyphenol antioxidants are instrumental in combating oxidative stress, which is linked to cardiovascular disease. Non-alcoholic sources of polyphenol antioxidants include berries, apples, grapes, celery, broccoli, onion, honey, chocolate, green tea, and olive oil. Red wine has a relatively high concentration of these antioxidants in comparison to these alternative sources.

In one study, the benefits of moderate alcohol consumption on cardiovascular health exceed all other factors except the cessation of smoking. Alcohol is said to be hormetic, which describes a favorable biological response to low level exposure of toxins rather than the complete absence of toxins. In moderation, alcohol is linked to better cholesterol levels, decreased blood clotting, reduced artery spasms from stress, increased coronary blood flow, and increased insulin sensitivity. Moderate drinking is also said to reduce the risk of angina pectoris, which is chest pain due to a lack of blood and oxygen in the heart muscle. People who have a heart attack are more likely to survive it if they are moderate drinkers, rather than abstainers or heavy drinkers. Decreased risk of stroke is also a benefit of drinking in moderation.

Not all alcohol consumption is positive for cardiac health. Large quantity consumption of alcohol is linked to alcoholic cardiomyopathy, which is the weakening of the heart muscle, commonly known as "holiday heart syndrome." This deterioration of muscle can eventually lead to an arrhythmia, a disruption of electrical activity in the heart, resulting in an irregular heartbeat. Heavy drinkers may also become anemic or develop thrombocytopenia, few platelets in the blood, evidenced by increased bruising and nosebleeds.

The relationship of alcohol consumption in relation to total mortality is a U-shaped pattern, where moderate consumers have a reduced death rate in comparison to both abstainers and heavy drinkers. In summary, alcohol's mechanisms of benefits are related to its ability to improve blood lipid profile, decrease blood clotting, increase coronary heart flow, reduce blood pressure, reduce blood insulin, and increase estrogen levels. If you are interested in learning more about the effects of alcohol, both positive and negative, this alcoholism website can help.