Protect Your Heart
by Avoiding Heavy Drinking

You may have heard that alcohol has some medicinal value, and at the same time, you have probably heard how many people lose their lives to alcohol consumption. So where is the line of demarcation? At what level is it healthy and at what point is it dangerous?

A recent study by the Journal of the American College of Cardiology shows that though a little alcohol may be good, more is only doing yourself and actually your heart harm.

This study shows there is a real connection between cardiac problems, specifically heart attacks, and alcohol consumption. This connection shows up even in those with no family history of heart disease or other known risk factors.

The connection is high! In fact, excessive drinking is associated with 40% higher risk of heart attack, a 100% higher risk of atrial fibrillation (an irregular and dangerous change in heartbeat), and a 100% greater risk of congestive heart failure.

So how much alcohol is too much? The exact limits of light, moderate or heavy drinking are a little hazy, but a survey of doctors produced this scale, (a drink, for this purpose, is equal to one beer, one five-ounce glass of wine or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits or cognac):

• Light drinking: 1.2 drinks per day
• Moderate drinking: 2.2 drinks per day
• Heavy drinking: 3.5 drinks per day
• Abusive drinking: 5.4 per day

So what about these so-called benefits?

So is it really true that moderate drinking has health benefits? Well not everyone can agree on this. There have been some experiments to try and replicate the early studies that were done that claimed health benefits, and it was concluded that the studies were flawed due to their basic design. It was concluded that comparing groups of abstainers and moderate drinkers is unworkable as these groups contain so many other differences in their lifestyles, giving no constant for the study, and so, therefore, in fact, they cannot be compared.

On top of this, it has been found that there may have been interference from the alcohol industry in these early studies. For example, one Californian doctor published a study that found that those who drank in moderation were less likely to be hospitalised for heart attacks, but it was discovered that he received research grants from an alcohol industry foundation.

With the truth of these studies starting to emerge some scientists, as well as the American Heart Association, are advising abstainers not to start drinking as a way of improving health.

What if a Person Can’t Control their Drinking?

A person who can’t control their drinking, who keeps going until they are drunk is a risk to himself and to others. They desperately need help to achieve sobriety, not only so that they can experience the rewards of a sober life, but also to avoid the sever health conditions that an alcoholic is to subject to.

Excessive alcohol consumption not only damages the heart, but is also known to cause several types of cancer, including oesophageal, liver, breast and colorectal cancers.

Here at Narconon UK, we help those lost to alcohol addiction get their lives back and regain control to achieve a happier, healthier life.

Our rehabilitation programme endeavours to take a person back to clear thinking and a better outlook on life, using thoroughly supported withdrawal, New Life Detoxification, and exercises and courses that aim to strengthen life skills, and make it is easier to prevent relapse.

Contact us on 00800 802 1375 for more information