Alcohol and the Heart

Long-term, heavy drinking can lead to heart disease

Drinking more than the daily unit guidelines regularly and over a long period of time can increase your risk of developing heart disease. This is because, drinking at this level can:

• Increase the risk of high blood pressure. Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol causes raised blood pressure which is one of the most important risk factors for having a heart attack or a stroke. Alcohol is thought to do this through its effects on the kidneys and the blood vessels. Increases in your blood pressure can also be caused by weight gain from excessive drinking.
• Weaken the heart muscle. This means the heart can’t pump blood as efficiently. It’s known as cardiomyopathy and can cause premature death, usually through heart failure.
• Lead to an enlarged heart. This is a sign that the heart is unable to effectively pump blood around the body, and is known as heart failure.

Binge drinking can make your heart beat irregularly

The name Holiday Heart Syndrome is characterised by severe pain in the centre of the chest. It gets its name because cases of the condition tend to increase around holiday times or after weekends, when people tend to drink more .

Holiday Heart Syndrome tends to come on after episodes of heavy drinking – usually at least 15 units (about seven and a half pints of 4% beer or one and a half bottles of 13% wine). If this happens, your heart starts to beat irregularly making you feel breathless. Your blood pressure changes, increasing your risk of a heart attack and sudden death.

For help, facts and lifestyle advice, contact the British Heart Foundation. Call their Heart Helpline on 0300 330 3311 or visit www.bhf.org.uk

The Blood Pressure Association offers a range of information to help you take control of, or prevent, high blood pressure. Call their information line on 0845 241 0989 or visit www.bpassoc.org.uk