Alcohol has been found to be helpful in times when a person finds himself at the lowest point in his life. However, it was found that the use of alcohol, especially in medicine can cause more damage than prevent it. A recent review of a previous study connected alcohol to increased risks of stroke and heart attack.
A Harvard University research explained that the first 24 hours after ingesting alcohol can help protect the heart. But the same cannot be said for heavy drinkers. According to Health.com, Elizabeth Mostofsky who is an instructor at the Harvard School of Public Health and a postdoctoral fellow at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston said that heavy drinkers both have high short-term and long-term risks. Moderate drinkers on the other hand, may experience different effects after a few hours more than days or weeks later.
Medicaldaily.com reported that Mostofsky and her team of researchers found that women who drink more than 4 alcoholic beverage and men who drink more than 5 have a 72 percent chance of having a heart failure compared to others. They also said that drinking beer and wine pose lesser risks compared to gin, vodka, and whiskey.
"If you drink, do so in moderation," Mostofsky said. "There is consistent evidence that heavy drinking raises the risk of heart attack and stroke both in the long and short term." The research team including Mostofsky analyzed 23 previously published studies comparing the risk of heart attack and stroke hours and days after consuming alcohol. A total of 30,000 people were involved in the studies.
It was revealed that within the first three hours after a single drink, the heart rate will increase and it will mess its pace up, however, after 24 hours of moderate drinking (at least 6 drinks or less in a week) can improve blood circulation and the blood vessel functions while clotting is reduced at the same time.
With that said, the researchers concluded that moderate drinking can immediately pose a risk of heart attack. A day after, the risk of having heart attack is lower and strokes from bleeds are lower, too. Within a week the risks of strokes from clot formation is even lower. However, for heavy drinkers (15 more drinks a week for men, and 8 drinks or more for women) have greater risk for heart attack and stroke all the time.
