Heavy drinking increases risk of stroke
A meta-analysis of 41 studies (3 cross-sectional, 21 case-control, and 17 cohort studies) enrolling both men and women, correlated heavy alcohol drinking (>4 drinks per day, on average) with increased risk of stroke. Seven of 9 retrospective studies associated heavy drinking with an increase in risk as great as 6.5-fold for hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, but found no consistent association between stroke and light-to-moderate drinking. Evidence was insufficient to evaluate stroke risks specific to low or moderate wine intake.3
Recommendations
The US Department of Health and Human Services’ Dietary Guidelines for Americans 2005 state that moderate daily wine intake in adults (5 oz for women and 10 oz for men) is associated with the lowest all-cause mortality and CHD. The guidelines warn against drinking by people who are susceptible to the harmful effects of alcohol and participants in activities that require attention, skill, or coordination.4
The American Heart Association states that moderate alcohol consumption (1-2 drinks daily) may be considered safe in the absence of contraindications, and recommends consulting a physician first.5
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health says that moderate drinkers are less likely to die from coronary artery disease than are people who don’t drink any alcohol or who drink more alcohol. It recommends against nondrinkers starting to drink solely to benefit their hearts, however.6