Long-term daily drinking linked to stiffening of the arteries in men

Conclusion This prospective cohort study aimed to look at the relationship between long-term alcohol patterns and stiffness of the arteries as a potential indicator of cardiovascular health. The researchers found men who were stable heavy drinkers had stiffer arteries compared with stable moderate drinkers. Male former drinkers also had increasingly stiffer arteries over the following four to five years compared with consistent moderate drinkers. There were no significant findings seen for women at all. But this study does have limitations: This type of study is not able to prove drinking causes stiffness of the arteries. While the researchers have attempted to adjust for potential confounders, other factors may be responsible for the findings. The study didn't find any significant links for female participants, but this may be because they were under-represented in the sample, at only 23.6%. Data for alcohol consumption was self-reported, and this is subject to bias. Assumptions were used to calculate the ethanol content within the drinks, but this can vary widely between beers and wine. Although the study looked at stiffness of the arteries as a proxy indicator, it didn't assess whether long-term drinking patterns are associated with actual health outcomes, such as high blood pressure, stroke or heart disease. We all know drinking more than the recommended allowance can damage our health. To reduce health risks from drinking alcohol, the government advi...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Heart/lungs Food/diet Source Type: news