Maybe it’s time to cut down on your favorite cocktail.
According to a study published in the European Heart Journal, consuming a moderate amount of alcohol was associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation. Also known as AFib, the chronic condition is defined by the American Heart Association (AHA) as “an irregular heartbeat or vibration that can lead to blood clots, stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications.”
What else did the study reveal?
The researchers examined data from nearly 108,000 adults in Sweden, Norway, Finland, Denmark and Italy over a 28-year period. The volunteers, who entered the study at an average age of 48, underwent routine check-ups, where they offered a range of personal information, such as medical history and lifestyle, including alcohol consumption. (Related: The vitamin that doctors recommend everyone take now.)
During the halfway point (around the year 14), 5,854 of men and women developed AFib. In fact, the association of alcohol and AFib has been observed for all types of alcoholic beverages – wine, beer and spirits. The researchers found that those who drank on average one alcoholic beverage per day (approximately 4 ounces of wine, 11 ounces of beer or 1.3 ounces of distilled beverage) showed a 16% higher risk of this cardiovascular condition compared to adults who do not consume alcohol.
And the more you drank, the chances of being diagnosed with AFib increased. Two drinks a day were associated with an increased risk of 28%, and someone who consumed four or more alcoholic drinks a day faced a 47% higher risk.
Doesn’t red wine offer a number of health benefits?
Interestingly, several studies over the years have pointed to wine as a heart-healthy choice. A 2019 study published in the journal Molecules found that antioxidant and anti-inflammatory phenolic compounds in red wine can help prevent cardiovascular disease. In addition, professors at Louisiana State University announced in 2018 that they were developing stents (tiny tubes inserted into a blocked narrow artery) made of resveratrol and quercetin – two antioxidants found naturally in red wine – to prevent blood clotting and inflammation.
“In conclusion, we were a little surprised that neither the general consumption of alcohol – nor the consumption of wine in particular – was protective [of AFib] if consumed in low doses because it has been reported to protect against, for example, heart attack, “said Professor Renate Schnabel, senior author of the study and consultant cardiologist at the University Heart and Vascular Center, Hamburg-Eppendorf, Germany. Eat this, not that!
“However, previous reports have already suggested that there may not be a beneficial effect for atrial fibrillation, but they were not powerful enough to examine regular very low alcohol consumption. Our large study can now demonstrate that there may not be a limit below which alcohol consumption can be protective. “
Schnabel points out that he and his team were unaware of the type of wine the participants drank. In addition, other elements related to wine consumption, such as socioeconomic status, lifestyle and nutrition, also play a role in heart health.
“Therefore, factors other than the type of alcohol itself may have led to inconsistent associations in different studies,” he adds.
How common is AFib and what can you do to prevent it?
The AHA claims that at least 2.7 million Americans currently live with AFib. According to statistics from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), this heart disease is the cause of more than 454,000 hospitalizations each year in the U.S., and the agency estimates that It is likely that 12.1 million Americans will be diagnosed with AFib in 2030.
An editorial written by two professors at McMaster University in Ontario, Canada, regarding this latest research in Europe suggests that the connection between low alcohol consumption and AFib needs to be further investigated.
“Until then, each individual has to make their own better informed decision about whether consuming even one alcoholic drink a day is worthwhile and safe,” wrote the authors.
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