The excessive consumption of alcohol increases the risk of hemorrhagic stroke, which occurs when a weakened blood vessel ruptures and bleeds in the brain (aneurysm), according to the findings of a study published in the medical journal of BMC Medicine. On the other hand, drinking in a moderate way decreases the risk ofStroke ischemic, caused by blood clots that block diseased or damaged arteries in the brain.
Researchers from Karolinska Institutet (Sweden) and the University of Cambridge in the UK performed a meta-analysis of 25 studies on ischemic stroke, intracerebral hemorrhage and subarachnoid hemorrhage. They analyzed 18,289 cases of ischemic stroke, 2,299 cases of intracerebral hemorrhage and 1,164 cases of subarachnoid hemorrhage.
In parallel, the scientists evaluated the participants’ alcohol consumption according to 4 categories, light (<1 drink per day), moderate (1-2 glasses per day), high (2-4 glasses per day) and "Heavy" (more than 4 glasses per day).
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Alcohol consumption, a risk factor for stroke
The results of the study show that heavy drinkers were about 1.6 times more likely to suffer from hemorrhagic brain damage and 1.8 times more likely to suffer from subarachnoid hemorrhage. The association between heavy alcohol consumption and these two types ofStroke was stronger than that of ischemic stroke.
“Previous research has found an association between alcohol consumption and lower levels of fibrinogen, a protein in the body that contributes to the formation of blood clots. This may explain the association between light to moderate alcohol consumption and lower risk of ischemic stroke. But, the detrimental effect of alcohol consumption on the arterial pressure, a major risk factor for stroke, may increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke and outweigh any potential benefit, ”explains study author Dr. Larsson.
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