By Dr. Pradeep Kumar D
January 21, 2023 (IANSlife) The vast majority of individuals believe that binge drinking is safe, and many even think that it is essential to having fun. Others don't view alcohol as a narcotic and even think that binge drinking is beneficial to our hearts. Alcohol consumption, however, is more harmful than beneficial, and long-term excessive drinking puts the heart at greater danger and may raise your risk of developing alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
What is alcoholic cardiomyopathy?
Alcohol abuse frequently results in hypertension (high blood pressure), which weakens the heart muscles and impairs the heart's ability to pump blood effectively. To accommodate more blood, the heart enlarges and thins down, which has an impact on how well the blood and heart muscles work. Heart failure may arise from untreated hypertension if it is not addressed in a timely manner.
When drinking alcohol for an extended period of time, a condition known as cardiomyopathy, which affects the heart's muscles, can develop. Long-term untreated cardiomyopathy increases the risk of congestive heart failure and can become potentially lethal. It also increases the likelihood of irregular heartbeats. Men are more likely to be diagnosed with this ailment than women are, and it is typically detected in patients between the ages of 35 and 50.
Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is a serious condition that can develop in people who have consumed large amounts of alcohol for five to fifteen years or longer. Women who drink more than three drinks per day or seven drinks per week typically fall into the heavy drinking group and are more likely to develop alcoholic cardiomyopathy than males who consume more than 14 drinks per week or four drinks per day.
What are the signs and symptoms?
While alcoholic cardiomyopathy does not show any signs or symptoms until it enters the advanced stage. However, patients who are in the advanced stage showcase the followings signs -
What are the causes of cardiomyopathy?
The causes of cardiomyopathy are often unknown but, in some cases, doctors can identify the possible factors that can cause cardiomyopathy which include -
What is the diagnosis of cardiomyopathy?
The doctors will conduct the following tests to detect if you are suffering from cardiomyopathy -
What are the treatment options for cardiomyopathy?
The treatment options for cardiomyopathy vary depending on the type and severity of the condition.
What measures can you adopt to keep alcoholic cardiomyopathy at bay?
There are several steps that you can take to reduce your risk of alcoholic cardiomyopathy
How much is too much?
While some studies have defined binge drinking or occasional drinking good for health, however, avoiding alcohol is best. It is not a wise idea to start drinking alcohol to reduce the risk of heart disease. Instead, one must find different alternatives like doing yoga etc. that are beneficial for health.
In simpler terms, drinking alcohol is just not worth it and its potential small benefits to our heart are outweighed by its increased risk of developing serious illnesses like cancer or liver diseases. Therefore, if you wish to live a long and healthy life then you should opt for safer ways like regular exercise, a healthy diet, etc. to reduce the risk of developing heart disease.
(Dr. Pradeep Kumar D, Sr. Consultant - Interventional Cardiology, Aster CMI Hospital, Bangalore)
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