Showing posts with label Alcohol. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Alcohol. Show all posts
Friday, February 15, 2008
One alcoholic drink relaxes but two stress circulation
One alcoholic drink relaxes but two stress circulation
One drink of alcohol results in vasodilation and reduces cardiac output, but a second cancels out these beneficial effects, increasing the heart rate, cardiac output, and sympathetic nervous activity, a Canadian study reveals.
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 2008; 294: H605-H612
Saturday, January 12, 2008
Alcohol and long-term prognosis after a first acute myocardial infarction: the SHEEP study
Alcohol and long-term prognosis after a first acute myocardial infarction: the SHEEP study
Eur Heart J 2008 29: 45-53.
Context: Few studies have investigated the relation between alcohol consumption, former drinking, and prognosis after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), particularly for non-fatal outcomes.
Objective: To investigate the prognostic importance of drinking habits among patients surviving a first AMI.
Design, settings, and patients: A total of 1346 consecutive patients between 45–70 years with a first non-fatal AMI underwent a standardized clinical examination and were followed for over 8 years.
Main outcome measures: Total and cardiac mortality and hospitalization for non-fatal cardiovascular disease in relation to individual alcoholic beverage consumption at the time of AMI and 5 years before inclusion, assessed by a standardized questionnaire administered during hospitalization.
Results: We recorded 267 deaths, and 145 deaths from cardiac causes, during the follow-up period. After adjustment for several potential confounders, hazard ratios for total and cardiac mortality were 0.77 (0.51–1.15) and 0.61 (0.36–1.02) for those drinking >0–<5 g per day, 0.77 (0.50–1.18) and 0.62 (0.36–1.07) for those drinking 5–20 g per day, and 0.89 (0.56–1.40) and 0.69 (0.38–1.25) for those drinking over 20 g per day. Risk of hospitalization for recurrent non-fatal AMI, stroke, or heart failure generally showed a similar pattern to that of total and cardiac mortality. Recent quitters at the time of AMI had a hazard ratio of 4.55 (2.03–10.20) for total mortality. Measures of insulin sensitivity appeared to be the strongest mediators of this association.
Conclusions: Moderate alcohol drinking might have beneficial effects on several aspects of long-term prognosis after an AMI. Our findings also highlight that former drinkers should be examined separately from long-term abstainers. The potential mechanisms that underlie this association still need to be elucidated.
Eur Heart J 2008 29: 45-53.
Context: Few studies have investigated the relation between alcohol consumption, former drinking, and prognosis after an acute myocardial infarction (AMI), particularly for non-fatal outcomes.
Objective: To investigate the prognostic importance of drinking habits among patients surviving a first AMI.
Design, settings, and patients: A total of 1346 consecutive patients between 45–70 years with a first non-fatal AMI underwent a standardized clinical examination and were followed for over 8 years.
Main outcome measures: Total and cardiac mortality and hospitalization for non-fatal cardiovascular disease in relation to individual alcoholic beverage consumption at the time of AMI and 5 years before inclusion, assessed by a standardized questionnaire administered during hospitalization.
Results: We recorded 267 deaths, and 145 deaths from cardiac causes, during the follow-up period. After adjustment for several potential confounders, hazard ratios for total and cardiac mortality were 0.77 (0.51–1.15) and 0.61 (0.36–1.02) for those drinking >0–<5 g per day, 0.77 (0.50–1.18) and 0.62 (0.36–1.07) for those drinking 5–20 g per day, and 0.89 (0.56–1.40) and 0.69 (0.38–1.25) for those drinking over 20 g per day. Risk of hospitalization for recurrent non-fatal AMI, stroke, or heart failure generally showed a similar pattern to that of total and cardiac mortality. Recent quitters at the time of AMI had a hazard ratio of 4.55 (2.03–10.20) for total mortality. Measures of insulin sensitivity appeared to be the strongest mediators of this association.
Conclusions: Moderate alcohol drinking might have beneficial effects on several aspects of long-term prognosis after an AMI. Our findings also highlight that former drinkers should be examined separately from long-term abstainers. The potential mechanisms that underlie this association still need to be elucidated.
Wednesday, January 9, 2008
Physical Activity, Moderate Alcohol Intake Associated with Improved Survival
Physical Activity, Moderate Alcohol Intake Associated with Improved Survival
Physical activity and moderate alcohol consumption may help reduce fatal ischemic heart disease (IHD) and all-cause mortality, reports the European Heart Journal.
Nearly 12,000 Danish adults without previous IHD reported their alcohol intake and physical activity level and then were followed for about 20 years. Overall, about half died, with IHD accounting for 20% of the deaths.
After adjustment for confounders such as age and smoking status, active subjects had lower risks for fatal IHD and all-cause mortality than inactive subjects, and moderate drinkers (1 to 14 drinks a week) had lower mortality risks than nondrinkers. A combination of physical activity and moderate drinking appeared most beneficial — active subjects who consumed at least one drink weekly had up to a 50% lower risk for fatal IHD and up to a 33% lower all-cause mortality risk.
European Heart Journal article (Free PDF)
Abstract:
The combined influence of leisure-time physical activity and weekly alcohol intake on fatal ischaemic heart disease and all-cause mortality
Aims
To determine the combined influence of leisure-time physical activity and weekly alcohol intake on the risk of subsequent fatal ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and all-cause mortality.
Methods and results
Prospective cohort study of 11 914 Danes aged 20 years or older and without pre-existing IHD. During _20 years of follow-up, 1242 cases of fatal IHD occurred and 5901 died from all causes. Within both genders, being physically active was associated with lower hazard ratios (HR) of both fatal IHD and all-cause mortality than being physically inactive. Further, weekly alcohol intake was inversely associated with fatal IHD and had a U-shaped association with all-cause mortality. Within level of physical activity, non-drinkers had the highest HR of fatal IHD, whereas both non-drinkers and heavy drinkers had the highest HR of all-cause mortality. Further, the physically inactive had the highest HR of both fatal IHD and all-cause mortality within each category of weekly alcohol intake. Thus, the HR of both fatal IHD and all-cause mortality were low among the physically active who had a moderate alcohol intake.
Conclusion
Leisure-time physical activity and a moderate weekly alcohol intake are both important to lower the risk of fatal IHD and all-cause mortality.
Physical activity and moderate alcohol consumption may help reduce fatal ischemic heart disease (IHD) and all-cause mortality, reports the European Heart Journal.
Nearly 12,000 Danish adults without previous IHD reported their alcohol intake and physical activity level and then were followed for about 20 years. Overall, about half died, with IHD accounting for 20% of the deaths.
After adjustment for confounders such as age and smoking status, active subjects had lower risks for fatal IHD and all-cause mortality than inactive subjects, and moderate drinkers (1 to 14 drinks a week) had lower mortality risks than nondrinkers. A combination of physical activity and moderate drinking appeared most beneficial — active subjects who consumed at least one drink weekly had up to a 50% lower risk for fatal IHD and up to a 33% lower all-cause mortality risk.
European Heart Journal article (Free PDF)
Abstract:
The combined influence of leisure-time physical activity and weekly alcohol intake on fatal ischaemic heart disease and all-cause mortality
Aims
To determine the combined influence of leisure-time physical activity and weekly alcohol intake on the risk of subsequent fatal ischaemic heart disease (IHD) and all-cause mortality.
Methods and results
Prospective cohort study of 11 914 Danes aged 20 years or older and without pre-existing IHD. During _20 years of follow-up, 1242 cases of fatal IHD occurred and 5901 died from all causes. Within both genders, being physically active was associated with lower hazard ratios (HR) of both fatal IHD and all-cause mortality than being physically inactive. Further, weekly alcohol intake was inversely associated with fatal IHD and had a U-shaped association with all-cause mortality. Within level of physical activity, non-drinkers had the highest HR of fatal IHD, whereas both non-drinkers and heavy drinkers had the highest HR of all-cause mortality. Further, the physically inactive had the highest HR of both fatal IHD and all-cause mortality within each category of weekly alcohol intake. Thus, the HR of both fatal IHD and all-cause mortality were low among the physically active who had a moderate alcohol intake.
Conclusion
Leisure-time physical activity and a moderate weekly alcohol intake are both important to lower the risk of fatal IHD and all-cause mortality.
Friday, September 7, 2007
Advantages and Disadvantages of Alcohol Intake on Cardiovascular Health Reviewed
Advantages and Disadvantages of Alcohol Intake on Cardiovascular Health Reviewed
Study Highlights
In general, alcohol consumption creates a J-shaped curve in terms of the risk for myocardial infarction and total mortality. Consumption of 1 drink daily in women and 1 to 2 drinks daily in men has been demonstrated to reduce rates of total mortality by 18% vs abstinence, although the risk for mortality rises with heavy use of alcohol. Light to moderate drinking also reduces the risk for CHD events by 30% to 35% vs abstinence.
Alcohol use seems effective in reducing cardiovascular outcomes regardless of sex or age. Even among men with a healthy lifestyle, alcohol can reduce the risk for myocardial infarction by up to 50%.
Light to moderate alcohol consumption seems to be beneficial among patients with hypertension, although alcohol can increase blood pressure in a dose-dependent fashion, and heavier drinking may be particularly harmful for these patients. Alcohol also seems to reduce the risk for CHD among patients with diabetes.
Alcohol use also creates a J-shaped curve with regard to the risk for stroke and dementia, and alcohol consumption has been associated with a reduced risk for peripheral arterial disease.
Alcohol may also improve other significant cardiovascular risk factors. Drinking 1 to 2 alcoholic beverages per day can reduce the incidence of diabetes by 30%, and regular light alcohol consumption also reduces the risk of developing the metabolic syndrome.
It seems that the ethanol itself, rather than the type of drink consumed, is the component most responsible for the health benefits of alcoholic beverages.
Despite the benefits of light to moderate alcohol consumption, binge drinking is associated with a 2-fold increase in the risk for myocardial infarction and mortality vs with abstinence from alcohol. Therefore, the most cardiovascular protection seems to be derived from 1 drink per day among women and 1 to 2 drinks per day among men.
Nonetheless, the study authors do not recommend regular use of alcohol to prevent cardiovascular disease. They note that alcohol abuse is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States and that encouraging regular use of alcohol may contribute more cases to this already significant problem.
Alcohol may improve the risk for cardiovascular disease through increasing the concentration of HDL cholesterol. Alcohol seems to increase HDL cholesterol in a dose-dependent fashion, with an average increase of 5% in HDL cholesterol among adults who consume 1 alcoholic beverage per day vs adults who abstain. In addition, alcohol can improve insulin sensitivity, particularly when consumed immediately before or during eating. Finally, alcohol can reduce intravascular inflammation and abdominal obesity, both of which promote cardiovascular events.
Clinical Context
The current review by O'Keefe and colleagues describes the evidence for alcohol in improving cardiovascular health.
Pearls for Practice
Alcohol can improve cardiovascular outcomes primarily by increasing HDL cholesterol and improving insulin sensitivity and abdominal obesity.
The current review suggests that light to moderate use of alcohol can help improve rates of total mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, diabetes, and the metabolic syndrome. However, because of the high rate of preventable deaths associated with alcohol use, the study authors recommend against the universal prescription of alcohol consumption.
Study Highlights
In general, alcohol consumption creates a J-shaped curve in terms of the risk for myocardial infarction and total mortality. Consumption of 1 drink daily in women and 1 to 2 drinks daily in men has been demonstrated to reduce rates of total mortality by 18% vs abstinence, although the risk for mortality rises with heavy use of alcohol. Light to moderate drinking also reduces the risk for CHD events by 30% to 35% vs abstinence.
Alcohol use seems effective in reducing cardiovascular outcomes regardless of sex or age. Even among men with a healthy lifestyle, alcohol can reduce the risk for myocardial infarction by up to 50%.
Light to moderate alcohol consumption seems to be beneficial among patients with hypertension, although alcohol can increase blood pressure in a dose-dependent fashion, and heavier drinking may be particularly harmful for these patients. Alcohol also seems to reduce the risk for CHD among patients with diabetes.
Alcohol use also creates a J-shaped curve with regard to the risk for stroke and dementia, and alcohol consumption has been associated with a reduced risk for peripheral arterial disease.
Alcohol may also improve other significant cardiovascular risk factors. Drinking 1 to 2 alcoholic beverages per day can reduce the incidence of diabetes by 30%, and regular light alcohol consumption also reduces the risk of developing the metabolic syndrome.
It seems that the ethanol itself, rather than the type of drink consumed, is the component most responsible for the health benefits of alcoholic beverages.
Despite the benefits of light to moderate alcohol consumption, binge drinking is associated with a 2-fold increase in the risk for myocardial infarction and mortality vs with abstinence from alcohol. Therefore, the most cardiovascular protection seems to be derived from 1 drink per day among women and 1 to 2 drinks per day among men.
Nonetheless, the study authors do not recommend regular use of alcohol to prevent cardiovascular disease. They note that alcohol abuse is the third leading cause of preventable death in the United States and that encouraging regular use of alcohol may contribute more cases to this already significant problem.
Alcohol may improve the risk for cardiovascular disease through increasing the concentration of HDL cholesterol. Alcohol seems to increase HDL cholesterol in a dose-dependent fashion, with an average increase of 5% in HDL cholesterol among adults who consume 1 alcoholic beverage per day vs adults who abstain. In addition, alcohol can improve insulin sensitivity, particularly when consumed immediately before or during eating. Finally, alcohol can reduce intravascular inflammation and abdominal obesity, both of which promote cardiovascular events.
Clinical Context
The current review by O'Keefe and colleagues describes the evidence for alcohol in improving cardiovascular health.
Pearls for Practice
Alcohol can improve cardiovascular outcomes primarily by increasing HDL cholesterol and improving insulin sensitivity and abdominal obesity.
The current review suggests that light to moderate use of alcohol can help improve rates of total mortality, myocardial infarction, stroke, peripheral arterial disease, diabetes, and the metabolic syndrome. However, because of the high rate of preventable deaths associated with alcohol use, the study authors recommend against the universal prescription of alcohol consumption.
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