What to Know About Alcohol and Your Heart

We’ve heard for years that a moderate amount of alcohol, especially red wine, is good for your heart. Not so fast, though. A big new study shows that those drink very little, or not at all, have lower blood pressure, lower rates of heart disease and weigh less. The researchers defined light to moderate drinking as about a glass of wine a day but said that even reducing that amount could do your heart some good. The study included people with a gene that causes nausea and flushing when they drink, so they tend to avoid alcohol. And they were among those who had less heart disease. But even if you don’t have the gene that makes you want to avoid alcohol, it could still be worth the effort. For WebMD, I’m Dr. Michael Smith.