November 7, 2005 – Is Alcohol Good for Heart Health? A Canadian researcher has reservations about the benefits of alcohol consumption by associating it with a higher risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA), at least in men.
At the recent Canadian Congress on Cardiovascular Health, Dr Daniel Wong explained that moderate alcohol consumption (30g of alcohol per day, or the equivalent of two or more drinks per day) appears to increase the risk of abdominal aortic aneurysm by 65%. This result comes from the analysis of the alcohol consumption of 39,346 men, within the framework of an epidemiological study among health professionals.
“The result is somewhat surprising, admits D.r Wong, given the protective effect attributed to alcohol. So far, studies have shown that moderate alcohol consumption could effectively reduce the risk of coronary heart disease (angina pectoris and myocardial infarction). “But we also know that alcohol consumption is associated with higher blood pressure, a very important risk factor for aneurysms,” he adds.
Abdominal aortic aneurysm is a serious medical problem characterized by swelling and bloating of the abdominal aorta, a large blood vessel that supplies blood to the abdomen, pelvis, and legs. A ruptured aneurysm requires immediate surgery and can even lead to death.
According to the researcher, moderate alcohol consumption could also increase the risk of aneurysm in other blood vessels. New studies should clarify the link between alcohol and aneurysm, as well as its effects on women.
Dr George Honos, spokesperson for the Heart and Stroke Foundation of Canada, explains, however, that these results must be put in context. “The AAA-alcohol causation has not been shown,” he says. The Foundation’s position remains the same: people who don’t drink shouldn’t start in the hope of protecting their hearts, and those who drink moderately have no reason to stop. “
The abdominal aortic aneurysm is strongly linked to age and to risk factors for cardiovascular disorders, such as smoking, high blood pressure and obesity. About 520 people are hospitalized and 270 die from AAA each year in Canada.
Jean-Benoit Legault – PasseportSanté.net
According to Canadian press.
