Alcohol cuts heart disease risk

[cheese_za]

http://www.news24.com/Content/SciTec...t_disease_risk

Paris - Men who drink alcohol every day see a nearly one-third average reduction in the risk of coronary heart disease, according to a long-term study among Spanish men published on Thursday.

The research unfolded over a decade among more than 41 000 men and women aged between 29 and 69, who were assessed for their health and lifestyle as part of a European probe into cancer.

During the course of the study, 609 cases of heart attacks and other "coronary events" happened, 481 among men and 128 among women.

Among men, those drinking moderate, high and very high levels of alcohol all had a lower risk of coronary heart disease compared with non-drinkers.

For those classified as former drinkers, the risk was 10% lower; for those drinking little (0.5 grammes of alcohol per day), the risk was 35%; for moderate drinkers (five-30 grammes per day), the risk was 54% lower; and for high (30-90 grammes per day) and very high drinkers (more than 90 grammes per day) it was halved.

By way of comparison, a 285ml glass of heavy beer containing 4.9 percent of alcohol amounts to 11 grammes, while a 180ml glass of wine with 12% alcohol has 17.06 grammes.

'No heavy boozing'


Women also benefitted from alcohol intake, but the effects were not statistically significant, possibly due to lower numbers of "coronary events" in that group.

The type of alcohol consumed did not affect the level of protection.

The paper sheds light on the situation in Spain, which is the world's third largest producer of beer and wine and has the sixth highest per capita consumption of alcohol. But it also has one of the lowest death rates from coronary heart disease in the world.

To anyone tempted to defend heavy boozing as an act of healthiness, the paper also points to the many risks of alcohol abuse, in terms of premature death and disability.

The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that of the approximately two billion people out of Earth's 6.7 billion who drink alcohol regularly, over 76 million have ill health as a result, the paper says.

The study appears in Heart, a journal of the British Medical Association (BMA).

[naz]

it also kills your liver....yipppeeeeee!

[CancerousCrow]

Yup, the harm far outways the benefit and some get addicted quicker than others.
Its a scourge on humanity

[Diabolik]

Livers regenerate. Hearts don't.

[CancerousCrow]

Yah but it only regenerates so much before you contract Cirrhosis.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Long-te...cts_of_alcohol

The long term effects of alcohol in excessive quantities is capable of damaging nearly every organ and system in the body.

[Diabolik]

That only applies to excessive quantities. Moderate drinking is apparently fine.

Modern understanding

Some research in some countries has claimed the all-cause mortality rates may range from 16 to 28% lower among moderate drinkers (1–2 drinks per day) than among abstainers.[18][19][20][21] New York Times journalist Roni Caryn Rabin reasons that the statistics of this research are flawed.[10]

Maximum quantity recommended
Further information: Recommended maximum intake of alcoholic beverages

Different countries recommend different maximum quantities. For men, the range is 140g—210g per week. For women, the range is 84g—140g per week. Most countries recommend total abstinence whilst pregnant or breastfeeding. See Recommended maximum intake of alcoholic beverages for details.

The maximum recommended drinking limits( or even a few grams less) for different countries puts the drinking range within the 54% less category in the article above.

[CancerousCrow]

Not everyone drinks in moderation.
Face it the harm outways the benefit, so far they can only provide so called benefit compared to a massive amount of harm.

[gremlinwp]

Best benefit of suiping is getting dronk

Can't wait to get home.

[DeFqOn1_ZA]

I think the in long run you either going to be dead or going to need a liver transplant. One sip leads to another and next you know it you drinking heavily. I will rather stick to healthy foods and gym and live a better more active and healthy lifestyle.

[gremlinwp]

Originally Posted by DeFqOn1_ZA

I think the in long run you either going to be dead or going to need a liver transplant. One sip leads to another and next you know it you drinking heavily. I will rather stick to healthy foods and gym and live a better more active and healthy lifestyle.

At the end we are all going to die, my theory is I might aswell enjoy it while I'm here