Just ONE wine or beer a day can increase your risk of stroke by a FIFTH, research shows
- People who drank 105g of alcohol per week were considered moderate drinkers
- Equivalent to nearly six pints of beer, eight small glasses of wine, or nine shots
- The Seoul National University team analyzed records from a national database
Young adults who have just one drink a day could increase their risk of stroke by a fifth, experts warn.
People in their 20s and 30s who drink moderate to large amounts of alcohol are more likely to suffer a stroke than those who drink little or no amounts, according to a new study.
A team from Seoul National University analyzed records from a national Korean database of young adults who had health screenings four times a year and were asked about their alcohol consumption.
Those who drank 105g or more of alcohol per week were considered moderate or heavy drinkers.
That’s the equivalent of nearly six pints of medium-strength beer, eight small glasses of wine, or about nine large shot glasses — roughly one drink a day.
Of the 1.5 million participants, a total of 3,153 suffered a stroke over the six-year study period.
Young adults who have just one drink a day could increase their risk of stroke by a fifth, experts warn. People in their 20s and 30s who drink moderate to large amounts of alcohol may be more likely to have a stroke than those who drink little or no amounts, new research suggests (stock image)
Low sugar does NOT mean less alcohol
Alcoholic beverages labeled as low-sugar fool women into thinking they’re healthy, a study finds.
Scientists from the University of Melbourne recruited more than 500 women to test their perception of products claimed to be low in sugar.
Half were shown images of pre-mixed beverages with a low-sugar or similar claim, and the other half were shown identical “regular” products.
They were then asked to rate the drinks from 1 to 7 using a series of questions related to their overall health.
Products claiming to be low in sugar were found to be significantly lower in sugar, less harmful to health and more suitable for weight management, although there was no evidence to support the claims.
Although participants were informed that all products had equivalent alcohol levels, low-sugar products were rated as significantly lower in alcohol, according to the results, published in the journal Alcohol & Alcoholism.
The analysis found that those who were moderate to heavy drinkers for two or more years had about a 20 percent greater risk of stroke than people who drank less or not at all.
As the number of years of moderate to heavy drinking increased, so did the risk of stroke.
People with two years of moderate to heavy drinking had a 19 percent increased risk, those three years old had a 22 percent increased risk, and those age four had a 23 percent increased risk.
The link was mainly due to an increased risk of a hemorrhagic stroke – or a stroke caused by bleeding in the brain.
These results came after the researchers considered other factors that might influence stroke risk, such as high blood pressure, smoking and body mass index.
The British charity Stroke reports that today one in five stroke victims is under the age of 55.
Study author Eue-Keun Choi said: “The rate of stroke in young adults has increased in recent decades, and stroke in young adults results in death and severe disability.
“Because more than 90 percent of the total stroke burden can be attributed to potentially modifiable risk factors, including alcohol use, and because stroke in young adults has a serious impact on both individuals and society by limiting their activities during their most productive years, reduce alcohol use should be emphasized in young adults with heavy drinking habits as part of any stroke prevention strategy.’
The researchers write in the journal Neurology that there are several possible mechanisms that could explain the link between alcohol and stroke.
Drinking a lot of alcohol can lead to high blood pressure – high blood pressure – which in turn can be a major risk factor for stroke.
Alcohol can also increase the likelihood of atrial fibrillation, which can lead to an irregular heart rate and therefore an increased risk of stroke.
The researchers said their study was limited by only including Koreans, meaning the risk may not be extrapolated to other racial and ethnic groups.
Participants also filled out questionnaires and may have forgotten how much alcohol they drank.
In the UK, it is recommended that adults should regularly drink no more than 14 units of alcohol per week.