Risk of heart attacks greater for teetotalers than moderate drinkers
People who have one or two drinks a day have a 20 per cent lower chance of suffering a heart attack compared to those who are teetotal, a study has found.
Scientists have found that moderate drinking – equivalent to one drink a day for women and two for men – may help the heart by dampening stress-related signals in the brain.
Presented at the American College of Cardiology’s annual meeting, the research is based on the healthcare records of more than 53,000 people.
Despite the apparent good news for moderate drinkers, scientists have stopped short of calling for people to turn to alcohol to reduce stress, pointing to other negative side effects.
They advise other forms of therapy, such as yoga.
The study participants were divided into those who described their self-reported alcohol intake as low – less than one drink per week, moderate – one to 14 drink, or high – more than 14.
Around 15 per cent experienced a major adverse cardiovascular event, with 17 per cent in the low alcohol intake group and 13 per cent in the moderate intake group.
Some of these patients underwent brain scans to measure activities in the regions associated with stress, such as the amygdala and the frontal cortex.
Findings showed that compared with low or no alcohol intake, those who reported drinking in moderation had a 20 per cent lower chance of experiencing a major cardiovascular event and lower stress-related brain activity.
Dr Kenechukwu Mezue, a fellow in nuclear cardiology at Massachusetts General Hospital and the study's lead author, said: "We found that stress-related activity in the brain was higher in non-drinkers when compared with people who drank moderately, while people who drank excessively had the highest level of stress-related brain activity.
"The thought is that moderate amounts of alcohol may have effects on the brain that can help you relax, reduce stress levels and, perhaps through these mechanisms, lower the incidence of cardiovascular disease."
He added: "The current study suggests that moderate alcohol intake beneficially impacts the brain-heart connection.
"However, alcohol has several important side effects, including an increased risk of cancer, liver damage and dependence, so other interventions with better side effect profiles that beneficially impact brain-heart pathways are needed."
Previous research has indicated that moderate drinking could slow cognitive decline, protecting against dementia.
A paper last year by the University of Georgia found that people who enjoyed a regular drink – up to two a day – were a third less likely to have decreased cognitive function compared to teetotalers.
Another preliminary study presented at this month’s American College of Cardiology conference, showed that young and middle-aged adults who reported severe psychological distress – such as depression or anxiety – after recovering from a heart attack were more than twice as likely to suffer a second cardiac event within five years, compared with those experiencing only mild distress.
The findings from the observational study are based on health outcomes in 283 heart attack survivors aged 18 to 61.
Dr Mariana Garcia, a cardiology fellow at Emory University in Atlanta and the study's lead author, said: "Our findings suggest that cardiologists should consider the value of regular psychological assessments, especially among younger patients.
"Equally importantly, they should explore treatment modalities for ameliorating psychological distress in young patients after a heart attack, such as meditation, relaxation techniques and holistic approaches, in addition to traditional medical therapy and cardiac rehabilitation."
