Alcohol does not impact the body in the same way if you drink a little or a lot.
- 12.6% of adults consume alcohol daily.
- Alcohol consumption is significantly less frequent in Ile-de-France (7.1%), Normandy (7.9%) and Pays de la Loire (8.1%), as well as in all the DROMs.
According to a new study, the more alcohol one consumes, the greater the risk of developing cardiovascular disease. For example, we are talking here about hypertension, myocardial infarction, cerebrovascular accident (CVA), heart failure or even atrial fibrillation.
Hypertension and coronary artery disease
“What really is the risk of cardiovascular disease associated with different amounts of alcohol, if consumed regularly?”, wondered the researchers before starting their work. “Observational studies have already revealed cardiovascular benefits due to moderate alcohol consumption, while recent genetic analyzes have instead indicated a possible causal link between drinking and increased risk of cardiovascular disease. they specify.
This study involved 371,463 participants. After analyzing their drinking habits and health data, scientists found that moderate drinking was associated with minimal increases in cardiovascular risk, while heavier alcohol consumption mathematically led to exponential increases in disease risk. . “A one-degree increase in alcohol consumption was associated with a 1.3-fold increased risk of hypertension and a 1.4-fold increased risk of coronary artery disease,” can we read in their report.
No more than two glasses a day
The researchers conclude: “Genetic epidemiology indicates that alcohol consumption of any amount is associated with increased cardiovascular risk, but that there are marked differences in risk between levels of consumption.”
Although the overall volume of pure alcohol drunk in France (11.7 liters per inhabitant aged 15 and over) has been decreasing since the 1960s, France remains among the most consuming countries in the world, ranking sixth among the 34 OECD countries. Santé Publique France recommends drinking no more than two glasses a day, and not every day.
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