home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- $Unique_ID{BRK00049}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Does Alcohol Help the Heart?}
- $Subject{drinking alcohol heart cholesterol Circulatory System coronary
- disease drink drinks high density lipoprotein cholesterol hdl arteries stroke
- artery lifestyle lifestyles}
- $Volume{G-3, G-23}
- $Log{
- HDL Transports Cholesterol Back to the Liver*0002702.scf
- The Heart's Blood Supply*0008901.scf}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
-
-
- Does Alcohol Help the Heart?
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- QUESTION: Does alcohol help the heart?
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- ANSWER: A few years ago, researchers announced that drinking alcohol in
- moderation might reduce one's risk of coronary heart disease. In two
- studies--done in Hawaii and Boston--the medical records of several hundred men
- were evaluated and the statistics showed that those who drank lightly or
- moderately had a lower incidence of heart disease than those who didn't drink.
- Other researchers postulated that, like exercise, alcohol raises the blood
- levels of high density lipoprotein cholesterol, the so-called "good"
- cholesterol that protects coronary arteries from the "bad" cholesterol.
- There is also evidence that light drinking may reduce risk of stroke in
- men. However, heavy drinking increases the risk of stroke fourfold.
- There is still a lot of debate going on over this question. Edward
- Eichner, M.D., of the University of Oklahoma Health Sciences Center, pointed
- out that people who drink moderately also eat moderately, which reduces risk
- of heart disease by itself. Moderate drinking simply goes along with other
- moderate habits that reduce risk, rather than changing the risk by itself. He
- also notes that drinking alcohol raises blood pressure, can lead to weight
- gain, and reduces glucose tolerance, which all increase the risk of heart
- disease.
- No one has ever doubted that heavy drinking is bad for anyone's health.
- Before anyone decides to lift an elbow using the motive of it being medically
- advisable for his or her health's sake, more evidence that it really is good
- is needed.
-
- ----------------
-
- 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.
-
-