It’s true that having an occasional drink shouldn’t be bad for your health. If you’ve been indulging in alcoholic beverages, though, studies show that you could be damaging your heart. The good news is that it’s possible to heal your heart if you reduce your alcohol intake as soon as possible. Let’s look at some of the great reasons you should be thinking about cutting down on alcohol.
1. It Elevates Your Blood Pressure
Many people don’t know it but high blood pressure is the most common issue that regular drinkers face. Studies show that alcohol can cause your blood vessels to constrict. This constriction makes it harder for blood to flow around your body, which in turn results in higher blood pressure.
Interestingly, just one drink can cause this issue. Though the problem usually resolves when a small amount of alcohol leaves the system, the problem may become permanent if you drink a lot.
2. You May Gain Unwanted Weight
Alcohol contains quite a bit of empty calories. If you drink a lot, you run the risk of gaining weight. Weight gain is associated with a number of chronic illnesses, including heart disease. To reduce this risk, it’s best to keep your alcohol consumption down.
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3. There’s An Increased Stroke Risk
When alcohol affects your arteries, there can be damage to your heart over time. This damage can significantly increase your risk of having a stroke.
Bear in mind that increased blood pressure can also lead to a stroke. Strokes are an emergency situation where the blood flow to your brain is obstructed and it can take years for some people to recover from one. It’s always better to prevent one where you can.
4. It Affects Your Heart Muscle
People who have been drinking heavily for a long time can develop a health problem known as alcoholic cardiomyopathy. In this disorder, the alcohol causes your heart muscles to droop or stretch out, which makes it hard for your heart to pump blood.
Without an adequate blood supply, the organs and tissues will be affected. Other possible symptoms include chronic fatigue, trouble breathing, swollen extremities, and heart failure.
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5. Your Heartbeat May Be Irregular
Another way that alcohol can affect your heart is how quickly it beats. While drinking, your heartbeat can increase and this typically continues if you drink heavily on a regular basis.
Over time, you can start having arrhythmias where your heart beats too quickly or irregularly. This may be uncomfortable at first but eventually, it can lead to other heart problems.
How Much You’re Allowed To Drink
The amount of alcohol you’re allowed to drink is measured in units and experts say everyone can have up to 14 units per week. If that sounds complicated, there are apps that you can get on your phone to calculate what you can have.
It may also help to know what different kinds of drinks entail. For example, a 750 ml bottle of wine that has an alcohol by volume (ABV) of 13.5% is considered to be 10 units. A 25 mi shot of alcohol with an ABV of 40% would be 1 unit.
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Tips To Reduce Your Drinking
Whether or not you’re over your allowed limit, it’s good to keep your intake at a manageable level. That starts with knowing how much you’re drinking and if there are any specific situations that make you drink more. If you’re tracking your consumption, it helps to spread the drinks out over several days.
While you’re drinking, make sure to have water regularly as well. Keeping hydrated typically ensures that you’ll drink less. It can also help to let your friends and loves ones know that you’re cutting down so they can support you.
Depending on how much alcohol you’re drinking, cutting down might not be easy. It might be a good idea to talk to your doctor and seek out support groups in your area. Both of those options can get you the resources you need to reduce your alcohol intake.
