Wine May Protect Women's Hearts
|
 |
|
Scientists studied the effect of alcohol consumption on 102 women under the age of 75 who had survived either a heart attack or surgery for blocked arteries.
They found that those who drank small amounts of wine daily for one year had the healthiest heart beat rhythm.
On the other hand, drinking beer or spirits did not seem to have the same effect, the Karolinska Institute team told the Heart Journal.
Much of the research on the potential health benefits of alcohol has been done on men, and it is still not clear exactly why moderate amounts of wine seems to be good for the heart.
The Stockholm research team tracked the alcohol intake of 102 women aged under 75 for a year.
After at least one year, a heart tracing (ECG) was taken over 24 hours during routine activities in all the participants, to test heart rate variability (HRV).
Better rhythms
HRV measures the changes in time intervals between the beats of the heart.
Decreased variability has been associated with an increased risk of heart disease and death. This is because a decreased variability indicates that the heart is less able to respond to the need, for instance, to speed up blood flow around the body during exercise.
HRV was lowest in women who drank no alcohol at all, and highest in those who drank five or more grams of alcohol a day, or more than half a standard unit.
Further analysis showed that the type of alcohol consumed made a difference.
In fact, HRV was highest among women who drank wine, even after taking into account other influential factors, such as age, weight, and the habit of smoking. Beer and spirits had little impact on HRV.
Professor Staffan Ahnve suggested that it may be possible that drinking wine helped to calm the nervous system, which might in turn have a beneficial effect on heart rhythm.
In addition, people who drank wine regularly often slept better, which might be the result of a relaxed nervous system.
Caution urged
"We have known for some time that moderate consumption of alcohol (1-2 units per day) might protect against coronary heart disease," said Dr. Charmaine Griffiths, of the British Heart Foundation.
"This research suggests that the type of drink may be important and adds to the evidence that red wine may have specific benefits over and above other alcoholic drinks," continued Griffiths.
"In the short term, the good news is that we can all enjoy alcohol in moderation. However, drinking too much can have an adverse effect on health. It can damage the heart muscle, increase blood pressure and lead to weight gain," he concluded.
Dr. Griffiths said more research was needed to discover the exact beneficial effects of alcohol on heart health.
"There is no evidence, however, for non-drinkers to start drinking alcohol," she said.
"Our advice remains the same - the best way to reduce the risk of heart disease is to stop smoking if you smoke, increase levels of physical activity and eat a healthy, balanced diet."
|
Home • General Index • Contact Us • Search • News • About Us • Site Map |
