No amount of alcohol is good for your heart

The Heart Foundation has released anew position statement on alcohol advising that no amount of alcohol is good for your hearthealth and drinking lessisabetter option.

Thenew guidance released in lateJune supportspeople to make informed decisions abouttheir hearthealth. It highlights the risks of alcohol and givesNew Zealandersthe opportunity to evaluate theirdrinkingand take steps to drink less.

“Nomatter where you are on thescale of alcohol consumption, lessisbetter,” says Heart Foundation MedicalDirector Dr Gerry Devlin. “There arerisks for your heartassociated withdrinking alcohol and the latest evidenceshowsanincreased riskofhigh bloodpressure,amajorrisk factorfor heart disease and stroke.Alcohol also increasesthe risk of arange of heart conditions,such as atrial fibrillation and haemorrhagic stroke, andmay increasethe risk of heart failure.”

Formany years there have been commonly held beliefs that drinking alcohol in moderationoffers protectionagainst heart disease or that red wineisgoodfor the heart. We nowknowthisisnot the case. Thereisnow agreaterbody of evidencethat clearly shows anytype or amountofalcohol increases the risk of heart disease.

Dr Devlinsays alcohol affects the heart andblood vessels in multiple wayswhich includes impactingheartrate, blood pressure andfunctioning of the cellsliningthe heart andblood vessels.

“We’re sayingifyou don’tdrink alcohol–don’t start. If you do drink alcohol –it’sbetter to drink less.You can reduce yourdrinking overtime. Any stepsyou can take to reduce the amount you drinkwill benefit your heart health.”

Dr Devlinsayspeople who drinkthe mosthave the most to gain when theystart drinking less

“Forexample, if youhave elevated blood pressure, reducingalcohol consumption is likely to impact favourably on blood pressure readings. If yousuffer fromatrialfibrillation, acommon heart rhythm disorder,reducing alcohol is likely to decrease symptomatic episodes.

“Theevidenceisclear that everydrink counts. It’salsoclear that it’snever too late to make changes. Anyreduction in alcohol intakecan be beneficial.”

The benefits extend beyond the heart Diallingback the drinks can help to improve sleep quality,manage weight and may even help youtosave money at atimewhenthe costofliving is high

Talk to your doctor to find outifthe amount you are drinking is affecting your healthand well-being.

For free support,contact theAlcohol Drughelpline24/7 on 0800787 797 or visit support.alcohol.org.nz/ for alistof services availablethroughout Aotearoa New Zealand.

Key facts:

Fourout of five (79%)New Zealand adults(aged15years andover) report drinkingalcohol in the past year.Of those whodrankalcohol,one in five (19%)were drinking hazardously -that’s approximately986,500hazardous drinkers

Thereisstrong evidence that alcohol increases the riskofhigh bloodpressure. For each10g increaseofpurealcohol per day(1standard drink) theriskofhigh bloodpressure increasesby6%

Published: 27June 2023

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