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Alcohol Beneficial for Heart
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Does consuming alcohol protect the Heart? Research published in the Archives of Internal Medicine has linked moderate alcohol consumption to lower rates of heart attack among men with healthy lifestyles.
Acute myocardial infarction, commonly known as a heart attack, occurs when the blood supply to a part of the heart is interrupted which leads to the death of heart tissue. It is the leading cause of death for both men and women worldwide. Heart attack may present with a heaviness or chest pain that may radiate into the shoulder or arm.
Of over 50,000 potential subjects from the Health Professional Follow-up Study, nearly 9000 were deemed to be “healthy” and were enrolled into the study. All were nonsmokers, not overweight, regularly performed exercise and consumed a healthy diet. The level of alcohol intake and the incidence of heart attack among these individuals were assessed for 16 years.
The results showed that when compared to those who abstain from drinking, those who drank 2 glasses of alcohol per day were 60% less likely to have a heart attack. In those who drank 3 or more drinks per day, the incidence rose, but they were still 10% less likely to develop a heart attack.
From these findings researchers suggests that moderate consumption of alcohol (two drinks a day) helps in reducing the risk of heart attack in healthier men. However, the study did not consider the other risks associated with alcohol consumption such as cancer or potential liver damage.
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