According to a new study out of Harvard men with high blood pressure may protect themselves from a future heart attack by having one or two drinks a day. The results were published this month in the Annals of Internal Medicine.
Researchers from both the US and Netherlands gathered information on more than 11,000 men with high blood pressure over a period of 16 years. Dietary and lifestyle habits on each of the participants as well as other health measurements were recorded numerous times over the study period.
Men who regularly had one or two drinks per day lowered their risk for fatal heart attacks significantly compared to men who did not have alcohol or those who consumed higher amounts.
Interestingly there was not a difference in the death rate between moderate drinkers and non-drinkers or heavy drinkers.
The authors attribute the effect to two factors. First, HDL, the good cholesterol, was higher in men who consumed one or two drinks per day. HDL is associated with decreased risk for heart attack and coronary artery disease. Second, alcohol lowers the ability of platelets to clot, lowering the viscosity of the blood. This action is similar to that of taking a baby aspirin a day to lower heart attack risk.
This study has its limits because the population was primarily male healthcare professionals with high blood pressure, and the researchers state the effects may not cross over to the general population. Drinking alcohol in high amounts can have a negative effect on blood pressure, and in some cases cause an extreme elevation. Each person should consult their healthcare provider before making any dramatic changes to their daily habits, especially when negative consequences can be dangerous to one's health.
Posted by Dr. Christina Gutierrez on January 22, 2007 12:25 PM
