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WASHINGTON – Excessive consumption of alcohol has been identified as a new risk factor for developing high blood pressure and high cholesterol in men, according to a new study.
The study, published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, also finds a weaker link between drinking bouts in women and their likelihood of having high levels of sugar in the blood, which is a sign of future risk of developing diabetes.
Compared to people who do not drink, systolic blood pressure and cholesterol drinking men were about 10 points higher on average, and blood sugar levels of binge-drinking women were up. about 10 points higher on average, according to American Heart spokesman Richard Becker Association.
Data from the study were collected between 2011 and 2014 from 4,710 individuals aged 18 to 45 who responded to the US National Health and Nutrition Survey.
Excessive consumption of alcohol, for the purpose of study, is defined as having seven or eight drinks at one sitting more than 12 times a year.
The takeaway message of the study, according to the researchers, is one of moderation.
"Anything we can do to minimize the likelihood that a person has high blood pressure will reduce his future risk of having a heart attack and a stroke," Becker said.
"So, now on this list of risk factors we have recognized, we will include excessive drinking as something that is preventable and easily modifiable.
Becker believes that the results could lead to a policy shift for medical centers, health care systems, advocacy groups and, perhaps, large governing bodies such as the American Heart Association.
Whether it's an official policy or not, Becker said the results are a powerful message to the medical community about the need to ask people how much and how often they drink, and recommending them to make a change, if necessary.
"This can be very powerful in reducing the risk of cardiovascular events," Becker said.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death, disability and health care costs in the United States.
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