Previous studies have revealed various effects of alcohol consumption on the risk of cardiovascular disease, depending on the cardiovascular event under study and on the amount of alcohol consumed.
Consuming moderate amounts of alcohol has been consistently associated with reduced risks of coronary heart disease, stroke, and congestive heart failure.
On the other hand, consuming excessive amounts of alcohol has been associated with increased risks of myocardial infarction, stroke, and atrial fibrillation (abnormal heart rhythm). Atrial fibrillation is a cardiac dysrhythmia (an irregularity of the heart’s rhythm) in which there is chaotic electrical activity in the upper chambers (at 350-600 beats per minute) causing them to quiver instead of contracting in an organized way. The electrical impulses travel to the ventricles resulting in an irregular and usually rapid heart rate or pulse.
In a large randomized controlled trial of 34 715 initially healthy women (45yrs+), it was established that consumption of up to 2 alcoholic beverages per day was not associated with an increased risk of incident atrial fibrillation. Heavier consumption of 2 or more drinks per day, however, was associated with a small but statistically significant increased risk of atrial fibrillation.
References:
1. David Conen, et al. Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Incident Atrial Fibrillation in Women. JAMA. 2008;300(21):2489-2496.
2. Image by Patrick J. Lynch, medical illustrator; C. Carl Jaffe, MD, cardiologist
