CHEERS TO YOUR HEART (IN MODERATION)

In honor of Alcohol Awareness Month, a local cardiologist offers a look at the relationship between alcohol and your heart

(April 12, 2011) Bradenton, Fla. —  When it comes to alcohol and your heart health, the information out there can be a bit overwhelming. On one hand, you hear that alcohol can offer some heart-healthy benefits. On the other, drinking could cause damage to your heart. So, then, what is the truth behind alcohol and your heart? The short answer is, well, both.

When it comes to alcohol consumption, it’s all about moderation. In other words, if you do decide to drink to improve heart health, do so in very small doses.  The kind of alcohol you drink matters, too. In honor of Alcohol Awareness Month, Dr. Geraldo A Ramos, M.D., cardiologist at Bradenton Cardiology Center, gives us a better look at the relationship between alcohol and your heart’s health.

Here’s To Your Heart
“The possible heart benefits of alcohol primarily have to do with its affect on atherosclerosis,” says Dr. Ramos. “This condition occurs when cholesterol deposits build up in the arteries, potentially leading to a heart attack. However, alcohol – in moderation – may decrease the chances of developing this disease.”

To help you better understand how alcohol can decrease the risk of this disease, it’s helpful to know a little about cholesterol. There are two very different kinds of cholesterol that affect your heart: LDL, also known as “bad cholesterol,” and HDL, or “good cholesterol.” Having too much LDL and too little HDL can lead to the build-up of harmful plaque in the arteries, which can cause clots, heart disease and eventually a heart attack. However, high levels of HDL can prevent these build-ups, protecting the heart from atherosclerosis.

And that’s where alcohol comes in to play its part. Small amounts of alcohol have been shown to raise the levels of good cholesterol in the body and possibly prevent clotting. According to the American Heart Association, this is because ethanol (alcohol) may cause HDL proteins to travel more quickly through the bloodstream, increasing HDL levels and improving heart health.

What About Red Wine?
Red wine has been the focal point of many studies between alcohol and heart health. It has shown to offer the same benefits as other forms of alcohol, but it does have one additional ingredient that may make it slightly more heart-healthy. This ingredient, called resveratrol, is an antioxidant that helps protect the lining of the heart’s blood vessels and comes from the grape skins used to make the wine. Because red wine is fermented with these skins longer than white wine, red wine contains more of this healthy ingredient.

But before you pop that cork, it’s important to know that you can get the same antioxidant benefits from fresh grapes or grape juice. So for those who do not currently drink alcohol, these may be a better option for getting heart-healthy resveratrol.

Do other types of alcohol – like white wine or beer – have the same effect? 
White wine fans – you, too, can now raise your glass and get in on the heart-healing benefits of wine. New research suggests the pulp of the grapes used can be just as heart-healthy as the skin.

As for beer and hard liquor, some studies suggest the folate in beer may help lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. In fact, a few studies have also found that cardiovascular patients who drink one beer a day live longer. And when it comes to hard liquor, a French study found it does in fact help reduce bad cholesterol, but not as much as red wine.

Moderation, Moderation, Moderation
So while alcohol has shown to have some heart-healthy benefits, before you go have a few drinks in honor of your body’s most important muscle, remember that moderation is key. “Healthy ‘doses’ of alcohol are small ones and only beneficial for some – not all – people, “says Dr. Ramos, “and these amounts differ between men and women.”

According to the American Heart Association, moderate drinking for healthy men means no more than 2 glasses per day, and for healthy women, no more than one glass a day. One approved glass of alcohol consists of:
• 12 ounces of beer
• 4 ounces of wine
• 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor
• 1 ounce of 100-proof liquor

It is extremely important to be aware, for example, that the average glass of wine at a restaurant is six ounces, which is above a healthy daily limit. Any amount over the approved amount is considered excessive and can have a completely opposite effect on the body, causing more harm than good.  Remember that drinking alcohol isn’t like depositing money into a bank account. The heart benefits do not build as you drink more. Strictly staying within these guidelines is the only way to gain any heart-healthy rewards.

It’s Not For Everyone
For those who are not in good health or do not already occasionally consume alcohol, it is not recommended that you consider even moderate alcohol consumption for heart health, as it is not risk-free and can cause serious health consequences in many people. Even minimal alcohol use is not recommended for those who:
• have had a previous heart attack
• have heart failure or other heart condition
• do not already drink alcohol
• are pregnant or trying to get pregnant
• have had a hemorrhagic stroke
• have liver disease
• have pancreatic disease

If you’re unsure if approved amounts of alcohol are safe for you, Dr. Ramos recommends consulting with your doctor first. Together you can determine your level of health and whether you’re healthy enough to have an occasional drink.

And remember, many other lifestyle changes have proven to be more beneficial than alcohol  consumption in promoting heart health. The same old things we’ve all heard time and again still ring true: exercise every day and eat a low-fat, low-sodium diet.

However, if you’re in good health and want to engage in a little heart-healthy red wine, go ahead – cheers to your heart! (But only a little).