Many people around the world drink alcohol for many reasons; relaxation, stress relief, enjoyment, celebration and et cetera.  During the festive season, they tend to drink more. Covid-19 restrictions also led to anxiety and depression in many persons, resulting in greater consumption of alcohol in those habituated to alcohol. But while drinking, the individual should be mindful that some damage can be caused to the heart, resulting in long-term health problems.

Alcohol taken daily in moderate amounts damages the heart muscle, a condition known as cardiomyopathy. This results in reduced activity of the heart muscle, gradually   leading to its failure. This manifests as palpitations and breathlessness on movements in early stages. Later on, there is retention of water and salt in the body causing swelling on the feet and a bloated appearance of the face, breathlessness on lying down and reduced physical stamina.

Heavy drinking can cause disturbance in heart rate.  This may precipitate sudden heart failure or even cardiac arrest resulting in death.  Alcohol increases level of fats in the blood and the deposition of fat on the inner layers of blood vessels of the body. Because of its high carbohydrate content, it raises blood sugar levels precipitating and aggravating obesity and diabetes.  All these   conditions increase the risk of heart failure and or heart attack.

Alcohol is a known risk factor for hypertension and stroke. Studies have shown that hypertension can be controlled by just giving up alcohol. Many people are misled by the theory that small amounts of alcohol are favourable when it comes to heart diseases.  The small presumed beneficial effect is negligible as compared to the harms it inflicts. One does feel good after taking alcohol,    because of its euphoria producing effect on the brain. There is no specified ‘safe’ amount of alcohol that can be consumed. Effects of alcohol on the body vary according to genetic and physical factors, type of alcohol consumed and other risk factors present.  Some liquors like rum and whisky contain a large quantity of alcohol, whereas it is four to six per cent in beers.  The amount of alcohol   present in locally brewed homemade beers is mostly not quantified and can be much higher. For some individuals, a small amount of alcohol may be too much and they become inebriated with it. While a few may be able to tolerate a greater amount of alcohol. 

Women and juveniles develop adverse effects of alcohol with much lesser quantities than men, because their liver is not able to handle alcohol as well. Alcohol remains for a longer time in a child’s or woman’s body as it is metabolised slowly and causes harm in that process. The elderly are vulnerable to develop a heart problem due to multiple other causes, and alcohol aggravates and accelerates the process.

Once a person starts drinking regularly, he or she becomes dependant on it both physically and mentally. This compels them to drink regularly and in increasing amounts. When an individual takes alcohol on a regular basis and wants to give it up, he suffers from what is known as withdrawal syndrome. The body feels sick without alcohol and demands it. Thus, a vicious circle is formed, where one finds it difficult to leave it.

Alcohol affects the nutritional status of a person because it has high glucose content but no nutrients. It supplies empty calories, i.e. calories without nutrient substances. Thus, gradually, a person becomes obese and devoid of essential nutrients. Malnutrition, particularly protein deficiency, induced also causes heart failure. 

There are many healthy ways to prevent heart diseases, instead of taking small amounts of alcohol. One would not be able to judge as to when this small amount changes to moderate and then severe drinking. 

Therefore, wisdom dictates that one should mind the heart while drinking.

Dr. Rachna Pande is a specialist internal medicine