Relationship of Alcoholic Drinks to Heart Disease

Background:
Alcohol is a psychoactive drug that has been consumed in drinks
for most of human history. In chemistry, the term alcohol refers to a
whole class of organic compounds that include a hydroxyl group –
consisting of an oxygen atom and a hydrogen atom – bonded to a
carbon atom. In common parlance, however, the word alcohol
usually refers to a specific chemical with the formula C2H5OH, which
chemists call ethanol.

Alcoholic beverages have been used—and abused—since the dawn

of history. Although most people who choose to drink can limit their
intake to a level that produces no harm to their health or to society,
about 34 percent of the population drinks approximately 62 percent
of all alcoholic beverages consumed.

Many people assume the occasional beer or glass of wine at

mealtimes or special occasions doesn’t pose much cause for concern. But drinking any amount
of alcohol can potentially lead to unwanted health consequences.

Statement of the Problem:

This study aimed to analyzed the relationship of alcohol drinks to heart disease.

Objective:
To analyzed the health risk of alcohol drinking.

To determine the impact of alcohol consumption to cardiovascular disease.

Outcome:
Drinking too much – on a single occasion or over time – can take
a serious toll on your health. The impact of alcohol consumption
on chronic and acute health outcomes is largely determined by
the total volume of alcohol consumed and the pattern of
drinking, particularly those patterns which are associated with
episodes of heavy drinking.

This chronic heavy drinking is a significant factor in the

development of alcohol dependence, or alcoholism, and is
associated with serious adverse health consequences, including
negative effects on the cardiovascular system, such as heart
muscle disorders (i.e., cardiomyopathy), heartbeat rhythm
irregularities (i.e., arrhythmias), high blood pressure (i.e.,
hypertension), and strokes.

Drinking a lot over a long time or too much on a single occasion can damage the heart, causing problems
including:

• Cardiomyopathy – Stretching and drooping of heart muscle

• Arrhythmias – Irregular heart beat
• Stroke
• High blood pressure

Alcohol is a major risk factor for high blood pressure (hypertension). High blood pressure is a
condition where your blood pumps with more force than normal through your arteries or blood
vessels. It is the leading cause of cardiovascular disease,
including heart disease and stroke. It can be a combination of
factors, including:

1. Alcohol increases hormones that cause arteries to

tighten and constrict. This can change the amount of force
used to pump blood around the body.
2. Alcohol affects the nervous system (brain, spinal
cord and nerves) which helps regulate blood pressure.
3. Alcohol impacts receptors in blood vessels near the
heart that help maintain blood pressure.
4. Alcohol increases stress hormones like cortisol
which can increase heart rate and blood pressure.
5. Regular alcohol use often leads to increased body
weight (a major risk factor for high blood pressure).

By not drinking too much, you can reduce the risk of these short- and long-term health risks.