How Alcohol Affects Your Heart Health

The effect of alcohol on the heart is complex. For some individuals, even moderate alcohol use carries major risks. Ongoing research is being conducted to better understand the relationship of alcohol and heart disease. Read on to see if your drinking habits are hurting your heart and affecting your healthy lifestyle.

For reference, one drink is defined as follows: 12 ounces of beer or wine cooler, five ounces of wine (red or white), or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor.

Light to Moderate Drinking

Moderate alcohol use is defined as no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two drinks per day for men. Light to moderate drinking can actually protect your body from heart disease, may help you reach healthy cholesterol levels, and benefit your heart in other surprising ways.

According to Steven Nissen, MD, chair of the department of cardiovascular medicine at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, drinking in moderation can benefit the body in three ways:

1. Higher HDLDrinking in moderation can raise HDL, or “good” cholesterol.
2. Reduced Clotting Alcohol can act as an anticoagulant, making the blood less sticky and less likely to clot.
3. Less Inflammation Alcohol may also reduce inflammation, which plays a role in heart attacks and strokes.

Heavy/Binge Drinking

Excessive alcohol use is defined as drinking more than three drinks per day for men or women. Drinking too much can cause a weakened heart, trigger an irregular heart rate, or in very rare cases, lead to an irregular heart rhythm that's sometimes fatal. Drinking in excess also increases the risk of developing other problems, including high blood pressure and stroke, and can cause dependency, notes the American Heart Association.

You may have heard the popular myth that red wine contains more beneficial ingredients than other alcoholic ingredients — but there’s little to no evidence to back that up, according to a 2014 study in The Journal of the American Medical Association. The study found that having higher levels of resveratrol from foods like red wine or grapes didn't influence inflammation, cardiovascular disease, or mortality in adults ages 65 and older.