$Unique_ID{BRK02368}
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$Title{Does Moderate Drinking Help Reduce Heart Disease?}
$Subject{social drinker alcoholic heart attacks moderate drinkers coronary
artery disease drinking alcohol moderation alcoholics drinks disease
circulatory system behavior behaviors lifestyle lifestyles drink alcoholism
attack failure obstruction}
$Volume{Q-3,G-23}
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Copyright (c) 1992,1993   Tribune Media Services, Inc.


Does Moderate Drinking Help Reduce Heart Disease?


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QUESTION:  I am only a social drinker, one or two drinks at parties and the
like, so don't think I am looking for permission to be an alcoholic.  However,
I keep hearing stories that alcohol is quite beneficial, especially in
preventing heart attacks; but my wife says that is not proof enough, and that
I should write to you and ask about this.  OK, I am asking, now will you
please answer?  Does alcohol really help?

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ANSWER:  In one manner or another, this question is asked many times, and I
wish there was an absolute (pun intended!) answer to your question.  Studies
which span a period of more than 15 years, including a recently published
article, all seem to show that moderate drinkers have less coronary artery
disease than others.  That is good news about coronary artery disease, but the
statistics do not consider the down side of drinking the same amount of
alcohol, such as cancer and stroke.  Nor do they include the number of people
who start down the path of moderation and end up in serious difficulty.  The
more than 20 million alcoholics in the United States today surely started with
just a drink or two, and I would not be happy to think my words started anyone
on that road.  So let me put it this way, if you now drink one or two
alcoholic drinks a day, I think that is permissible.  If you don't drink now,
don't take this answer as permission to start.

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The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
the counsel and advice of your personal physician.  Promptly consulting your
doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
problem.