Alcohol's Benefits Extend to Hypertension

NY Times ^ | March 23, 2004 | DAVID TULLER

[neverdem]

Men with high blood pressure who drink moderate amounts of alcohol are less likely than nondrinkers to die of cardiovascular ailments like heart attacks and strokes, researchers reported yesterday.

The study's findings suggest that moderate drinking not only has protective cardiovascular effects for the general population, as previous studies have shown, but that it is also protective for people who already have hypertension.

The results are significant, the researchers said, because heavy drinking can contribute to high blood pressure, and some doctors warn hypertensive patients to avoid alcohol altogether.

"There are plenty of people who seem to have the impression that if they have hypertension they shouldn't be drinking alcohol at all," said Dr. J. Michael Gaziano, the study's lead author, a cardiologist at Brigham and Women's Hospital in Boston and an associate professor at the Harvard Medical School. "But that isn't based on any data. It's only beyond two drinks a day that you offset the benefits with the negative effects."

One drink is generally defined as a 12-ounce glass of beer, a 4-ounce glass of wine or 1.5 ounces of spirits.

The study, published in the March 22 issue of The Archives of Internal Medicine, is believed to be the largest to examine the effects of drinking on the health of people with hypertension. The researchers analyzed a subset of data from the Physicians' Health Study, a database of information on the medical conditions and habits of close to 100,000 doctors.

Of 14,125 men in the study who reported histories of hypertension but had no records of heart attacks, strokes, cancer or liver disease, 579 died of cardiovascular causes within several years, the study reported.

The men who drank one to six drinks a week had a 39 percent decreased risk of death from cardiovascular disease compared with those who drank rarely or not at all. Men who drank daily had a 44 percent reduced risk.

So few of the men consumed more than two drinks a day that the researchers did not separate them from the other participants, Dr. Gaziano said.

Moderate amounts of alcohol are believed to protect against cardiovascular disease in part by increasing levels of high-density lipoprotein, also known as the good cholesterol.

The new study does not recommend that nondrinkers with hypertension should start drinking to reduce the risk of heart disease. But patients with hypertension who are able to maintain light to moderate alcohol intake have no compelling reason to change their custom and eliminate a possibly beneficial habit, the authors wrote.

Dr. Daniel W. Jones, the dean of the University of Mississippi Medical School and a spokesman for the American Heart Association, said the study would reassure people with hypertension who continued to drink moderately. But he expressed concern that the study findings might also encourage drinking among people who have more trouble limiting their alcohol intake.

The heart association, Dr. Jones said, prefers to promote exercise, healthy diets and other steps to prevent cardiovascular disease among people with or without hypertension.

[cyborg]

Deed red wine without a lot of added sugar would best I think...somehow Rolling Rock beer doesn't conjur up cardiovascular wellness.

[neverdem]

PING

[Hanging Chad]

"...Men with high blood pressure who drink moderate amounts of alcohol are less likely than nondrinkers to die of cardiovascular ailments like heart attacks and strokes, ..."
- - -
WOO HOO !
I might just live forever !

[tubebender]

I heard this on the cBS radio this evening so I stopped at the nearest pub to have my prescription filled....

[KC_for_Freedom]

somehow Rolling Rock beer doesn't conjur up cardiovascular wellness.

Well, speak for yourself. I just don't like the no more than two a day thing, you would think the doctors would think this through, If one is good for you, two is twice as good. I imagine I'm up to four times as healthy, if you know what I mean.

[cyborg]

I've been drinking stout since I was...I can't remember. Maybe that explains everything :D

[#3Fan]

6 oz per day of Red Zinfandel (16% alcohol) was found to be the best for the heart and mind (3 or 4 oz for women). The reason that Red Zinfandel is best is because the juice from the Zinfandel grape is clear but to get the red color they slurry it in the skins and stems longer and it's the waxy substance on the skins that has some of the cholesterol fighting material in it.

[rogue yam]

Booze. Wow! Is there nothing it can't do?

[A Jovial Cad]

Me too! Or at least until the year 2587!

[A Jovial Cad]

I didn't hear about it until I got home, so had to have the "Dr." make a house call!

[Pamlico]

Great! Now hold my beer and watch this!

[Revolting cat!]

Hi, my name is Revolting and I'm an alcoholic!

[Ernest_at_the_Beach]

Beer is good for you,....ALRIGHT!!!!

[squidly]

Researchers have known for years that alcoholics have very clean arteries.

[BroncosFan]

Now, is "moderate" drinking redefined upward if one has a high tolerance? Something to ponder over a scotch . . .

[Nick Danger]

This is a great night! First I read that nicotine is good for you, and now this! Almost makes me want to go out and eat a Big Mac.

[#3Fan]

Good news! Big Macs keep your bones from turning green.

(I heard that dead vegetarians have green bones, don't know if it's true...:^)...)

[missyme]

Is that like saying I only drink with the days that end in "Y"

[Happygal]

I'm sorry, I CANNOT drink Guinness in moderation.

It's an Irish thing.