Heart and cardiovascular diseases are common in the United Kingdom. The British Heart Foundations says they “cause a quarter of all deaths in the UK, that’s…one every three minutes.” As a result, it’s important to look after the heart so it can work most effectively, and so overall health is the highest it can be. According to a new study even drinking a small amount of alcohol every week can pose a risk to cardiovascular health.
Published in JAMA (Journal of the American Medical Association) the study concluded: “Alcohol consumption of all amounts was associated with increased cardiovascular risk but marked risk differences exist across levels of intake.”
In summary, this study suggests alcohol intake of any level results in an increased level of cardiovascular risk and that the risk rises with consumption.
The more units someone drinks per week, the more likely they are to have cardiovascular issues later on.
Subsequently, even those who consume just one or two pints a week will experienced an increased risk of heart disease.
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On alcohol consumption the NHS advises that men and women should: “not drink more than 14 units a week on a regular basis.
“14 units is equivalent to six pints of average-strength beer or one small glass of lower-strength wine.”
If a person desires to find out how many units they consume per week, there is a unit calculator on the Alcohol Change website.
The link to the calculator can be found here.
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Author of the study Dr Ziyad Al-Aly spoke to Express.co.uk about the report soon after its release and warned this new wave of heart patients would: “pose a serious challenge on already strained health systems like the NHS and health systems in the US.
“There need to be more resources put into the system to establish more post-Covid clinics…we need to move into an integrated care system where people can receive comprehensive or integrated care for long Covid.”
As a result, more resources will need to be directed to cardiovascular treatments on the NHS to help those requiring long term care.
For more information on heart disease contact the NHS or consult with your GP.
