BOOZE CUTS RISK OF HEART DISEASE.By SARAH Sarah or Sarai: see Sara. Sarah (flourished early 2nd millennium BC) In the Hebrew scriptures, the wife of Abraham and mother of Isaac. She was childless until age 90. BARDON IT'S the news men the world over have been waiting for - alcohol can cut the risk of heart disease by almost a third. A study on males aged 29 to 69 found drinking booze could protect men from heart disease regardless of whether they drank beer, wine or spirits. But there was no significant benefit found in women. Spanish researchers found moderate drinkers could cut their risk of heart disease by 51%, by 54% among high drinkers and by 50% among very high drinkers. The study also found people who were former drinkers lowered there risk of heart disease by 10%, while those who consumed small amounts daily were 35% less likely to suffer cardiac problems. But health bosses warned the study is flawed and said booze will damage other organs and cause premature death Premature Death occurs when a living thing dies of a cause other than old age. A premature death can be the result of injury, illness, violence, suicide, poor nutrition (often stemming from low income), starvation, dehydration, or other factors. . Dr Brian Maurer, medical director of the Irish Heart Foundation, said: "Alcohol can be enjoyable and beneficial for your heart. But when used in excess it can cause strokes, high blood pressure, cirrhosis of the liver Cirrhosis of the liver A type of liver disease, most often caused by chronic alcohol abuse. It is characterized by scarring of the liver, which leads to an increase in the blood pressure in the portal veins. Mentioned in: Bleeding Varices and may be directly toxic to the heart muscle producing heart rhythm Noun 1. heart rhythm - the rhythm of a beating heart cardiac rhythm regular recurrence, rhythm - recurring at regular intervals atrioventricular nodal rhythm, nodal rhythm - the normal cardiac rhythm when the heart is controlled by the disturbances and heart failure. "It is also high in calories and so may contribute to excess weight and its associated cardiovascular problems." Spain is the world's third largest producer of beer and wine and its people are the sixth biggest drinkers in the world. But the country also has one of the lowest death rates from heart disease in the world. Dr Maurer said: "The Irish Heart Foundation does not recommend alcohol consumption as part of heart health." |
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