The holiday season can serve up opportunities for alcoholic drinks unlike any other time of year. Parties, dinners out and keeping a selection of drinks on-hand for visitors can mean increased consumption — and questions about what alcohol is doing to our bodies.
Alcohol Guidelines
Increasingly, health organizations are sounding the alarm on the health risks of drinking. Guidance varies. The World Health Organization and American Cancer Society say abstaining from drinking altogether is best for your health.
The American Heart Association (AHA) recommends drinking in moderation if at all. It defines moderation as no more than one drink per day for women and no more than two per day for men.
Alcohol and Heart Health
Dr. Abdulmohsin Ahmadjee, an Interventional Cardiologist with ThedaCare Cardiovascular Care, says alcohol can negatively impact heart health.
And it’s not just heart health that drinking alcohol affects. Short-term, moderate use may help you feel relaxed and less inhibited, but alcohol is a depressant. In addition, heavy drinking increases the risk for depression, anxiety, irritability, rapid mood changes and poor sleep.
There’s even a term for the heart health risks that binge drinking can bring. “Holiday Heart Syndrome” describes the appearance of cardiac arrhythmias following a period of binge drinking, often observed during weekends and holidays.
“If you do choose to drink, do so sparingly,” Dr. Ahmadjee says. “Talk with your primary care physician or cardiologist about a recommendation for your individual risk factors.”
4 Reasons to Cut Back
1. Consistent heavy or binge drinking increases the risk for every cardiovascular condition. This includes high blood pressure, stroke, irregular heart rhythm, heart failure and sudden cardiac death. “Even moderate drinking can increase blood pressure in some people,” Dr. Ahmadjee says.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines heavy drinking as eight or more drinks per week for women and 15 or more per week for men. It defines binge drinking as four or more drinks on one occasion for women and five or more for men.
2. The idea that drinking alcohol in moderation can improve your heart health is a myth. “No research has proven a cause-and-effect link between drinking alcohol and better heart health,” says Dr. Ahmadjee. In fact, the AHA does not recommend drinking wine or any other form of alcohol to gain potential health benefits.
3. Alcohol can weaken your immune system. That can up your risk of catching illnesses like colds, COVID-19 and pneumonia. These illnesses can in turn stress your heart. “This is a bigger threat around the holidays when we are gathered indoors with lots of people and germs,” Dr. Ahmadjee says.
4. Alcohol can contribute to obesity. It is a source of excess calories and a driver of weight gain that can cause harm in the long term. This impacts your heart and overall health.
How to Get Started
If you’d like to decrease your alcohol consumption, you can start with striving to follow the AHA’s recommendations. While many people can thoughtfully consume alcohol in moderation, others may see that their alcohol use is increasing or out of control.
“If you’re concerned about your reliance on alcohol, talk with your primary care physician or advanced practice provider,” Dr. Ahmadjee. “They’re here to help in a non-judgmental way.”
Finally, Dr. Ahmadjee offers some alternatives to drinking that can help you unwind in ways that will also benefit your health and well-being.
“Activities like spending time in nature, exercising or meditating can replace the perceived need for alcohol to relax,” he says. “In our own way, each of us can intervene and make decisions to support our overall heart and health. The holiday season offers a great time to start.”
