Heart Disease: Alcohol and Your Heart

The effect of alcohol on health is complex. For some people, even mild alcohol use carries major risks. For others, moderate alcohol use may offer a degree of protection.

Is Moderate Drinking Beneficial to the Heart?

At this point, doctors aren't sure. Research is ongoing to clarify the relationship of alcohol and the heart. However, findings in recent years suggest that moderate alcohol consumption (wine or beer) does offer some protection against heart disease for some people. Moderate drinking is defined as no more than one drink per day for women or lighter weight persons and no more than two drinks per day for men. One drink is equal to the following: 12 ounces of beer or wine cooler, 5 ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor.

Specific suspected heart-related benefits of alcohol include:

• Raises HDL, or "good" cholesterol level.
• Lowers blood pressure.
• Inhibits the formation of blood clots (this can be good or bad. It may prevent heart attacks but could increase the risk of bleeding).
• Helps prevent artery damage caused by high LDL, or "bad " cholesterol.

But, until we know more about the pros and cons of alcohol consumption, doctors do not recommend drinking alcohol for better heart health.

Can Drinking Alcohol Be Harmful?

Drinking alcohol can be harmful for some people. Those who have heart failure, cardiomyopathy, high blood pressure, diabetes, arrhythmia (irregular heart rhythm), a history of sudden cardiac death or stroke, obesity, high triglycerides, or are taking medications should speak to their doctor before drinking alcohol. Also, if you are pregnant or have a history of alcoholism, you should not drink alcohol.

The American Heart Association cautions people to NOT start drinking if they do not already drink alcohol. Many of the benefits listed above can be achieved through diet and exercise. Talk to your doctor about the benefits and risks of drinking alcohol.

Reviewed by the doctors at The Cleveland Clinic Heart Center.