Many of us know the importance of moderate drinking health-wise. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to various medical issues that can derail your tasks and how your life goes. Meanwhile, there’s also a notable correlation between drinking and your heart. We all know that the heart is one of the casualties when you don’t limit your booze. But there are other things people need to know about how their drinking habits can affect their heart.
Here are 4 facts you need to know about how alcohol can affect your heart:
1. The health risks of alcohol intake differ from one person to another
Certain health issues can make alcohol consumption more harmful. For instance, individuals who are taking prescription drugs for lowering cholesterol levels may encounter muscle aches when they have a drink.
Since alcohol and medications are both processed in the liver, somehow, they’re contending with each other for green light. Thus, it is essential to reflect on your general health and speak with your physician with regards your personal risk factors.
Moreover, alcohol is made from sugar, so if you’re more likely to have diabetes or you’re struggling with high triglycerides, naturally drinking alcohol isn’t your best bet. If you have liver dysfunction or take medications that are processed through the liver, your risks might be something else.
The bottom line is that you need to speak with your doctor with regards to how alcohol might lead to an interaction with your medications.
2. Red wine is better than hard liquor; though opting out of drinking is the best choice.
Some studies find that drinking red wine every now and then may be beneficial for your heart health. This may be by either preventing heart disease or reducing your risk of heart-related issues. However, you shouldn’t use this as an excuse to drink.
It’s not recommended to start drinking as means of reducing your risk of heart disease. At the end of the day, it’s better to not drink entirely. It’s much safer that way.
3. Your alcohol tolerance depends on age
Even though several people have the capacity to form a tolerance to alcohol over time, this is not permanent. Over time, your ability to be alcohol-tolerance diminishes due to age. As people get older, their capacity to clear alcohol absolutely lowers while their sensitivity to it heightens.
Moreover, as people age, they also tend to suffer from more health problems. So, the medications being taken to address these health issues can disrupt the way the body metabolizes alcohol.
4. Excessive drinking can lead to an irregular heartbeat
Even as moderate drinking is fine for most people, it is important to note that you can also suffer from holiday heart syndrome if you drink in excess. This happens when overeating and overdrinking in alcohol causes an irregular heartbeat.
Holiday heart syndrome can take place if you’re not a regular drinker, but the merry atmosphere of a party pushes you to be a prolific one, sending your heart to beat irregularly. This condition is called atrial fibrillation and it heightens your risk of stroke, heart attack, and heart failure.
Final thoughts
Health problems triggered by drinking can be avoided if you’re cautious of your alcohol consumption. No matter how crazy the party becomes, you should prioritize the wellness of your body and health as a whole. With this, the American Heart Association recommends no more than one drink per day for women and two for men.
