Heavy drinking in mid-age increases stroke risk

A new research has found that drinking more than two alcoholic beverages daily in middle-age, raises heart risks more than traditional factors.

The study led by American Heart Association, sorted out the data they collected from hospitals based on stroke, high blood pressure, diabetes and other cardiovascular incidences, and compared them from alcohol and health risks like high blood pressure, diabetes and smoking.

The researchers found that heavy drinkers had a 34 percent higher risk of stroke compared to light drinkers, and mid-life heavy drinkers (in their 50s and 60s) were likely to have a stroke five years earlier in life irrespective of genetic and early-life factors.

The team of researchers added to their findings that heavy drinkers had increased stroke risk in their mid-life compared to well-known risk factors like high blood pressure and diabetes.

Pavla Kadlecova, M.Sc., said that with the new findings they have a clear picture about the risk factors, how the influence of drinking alcohol changes with age.

The study is published in the journal Stroke.