Alcohol can be enjoyable and beneficial for your heart. In those who consume moderate amounts of alcohol (an average of one to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women) the incidence of heart disease is lower than in non-drinkers. (These benefits are not just limited to red wine). However, when used in excess, it can cause strokes, high blood pressure, cirrhosis of the liver and may be directly toxic to the heart muscle producing heart rhythm disturbances and heart failure. It can also raise the levels of some blood fats to produce hypertriglyceridaemia. With excess alcohol intake and severe hypertriglyceridaemia, pancreatitis may occur. Unfortunately, alcohol is also high in calories and so may contribute to excess weight and its associated cardiovascular problems.

Alcohol can increase the level of the "good or healthy cholesterol " i.e High Density Lipoprotein cholesterol "HDL" cholesterol. Some alcoholic drinks also contain flavanoids which are thought to have a protective effect on the heart.

One should drink in moderation. The Irish Heart Foundation does not recommend alcohol consumption as part of heart health, but advises in those who drink that men should consume less than 21 units of alcohol per week whereas women should consume no more than 14 units of alcohol per week. However, if you have an alcohol related medical condition such as high blood pressure or heart failure you should consider much lower alcohol limits such as less than 10 units per week. In some instances as stated below alcohol should be avoided.

Alcohol Units

One unit

= Half pint of Beer

= 100cc glass of wine

= Single measure of sherry / spirit.

Pitfalls in measuring your own alcohol consumption
Remember that we do not use a measure at home when pouring spirits and in fact we are often pouring a double or treble! Some wines have a higher percent of alcohol and thus each glass may contain up to 1.5 units. On average a bottle of wine contains 10 units of alcohol. Similarly, some beers have a higher alcohol intake and a pint may in fact be 4 units. The health benefits of alcohol are not achieved by storing up all the units for a Saturday nights binge drinking. In fact the latter can be very harmful and result in pancreatic damage or stroke. It is best to consult with your doctor for advice on consuming alcohol in moderation (no more than 2 drinks per day). There is no definitive evidence of a superiority of one form of alcohol over another in terms of heart benefits.

Alcohol and Heart Conditions
There are a large number of individuals who regularly attend their doctor for the management of their high blood pressure but are totally unaware that their alcohol consumption is the main problem. They end up requiring many medicines which are unnecessary and possibly harmful. In many instances, simply stopping alcohol consumption will correct high blood pressure. While modest amounts of alcohol (1 –2 drinks per day) may reduce blood pressure higher intakes are associated with hypertension. The mechanisms of alcohol induced hypertension relate to its effect on increasing the sympathetic system thereby increasing heart rate, force of contraction and vasoconstriction. In addition, alcohol modifies the effect of adrenaline on the heart. Lastly, alcohol reduces the sensitivity of baroreceptors which normally act to switch off high blood pressure.

There are also individuals who have a poor quality of life due to heart failure as a result of alcohol. Why certain people have hearts that are susceptible to alcohol is unclear but in such people, alcohol must be completely avoided if one has alcohol induced heart failure.  Alcohol must be completely avoided if one has alcohol induced heart failure. Cessation of alcohol can have a dramatic impact on some individuals lives as their hearts may recover fully. The sooner one stops alcohol completely the better the outlook in this condition. If you are troubled by recurrent palpitations (awareness of your heart beating out of sorts), you may find that reducing your alcohol intake will help.

Alcohol and other Medicines ?
One should be aware that alcohol may interfere with other medications one may be taking. For example alcohol can increase the effect of warfarin, sleeping tablets, some pain killers and the antibiotic metronidazole. It may also increase the drowsiness associated with anti-histamines (e.g. piriton). Drinking excessive alcohol for those who take aspirin on a regular basis may increase the risk of stomach bleeding. If taking aspirin, one should minimize alcohol consumption.

Alcohol and pregnancy?
Pregnant women should avoid alcohol during the first trimester; as in excess, it can cause the baby serious harm, including birth defects.