Problem of plenty

Socio-cultural aspects of alcohol consumption are diverse and varied. We have societies in the Western world like the Mediterranean countries,where consuming alcohol is accepted as an unexceptional way of celebrating an occasion to countries like India,where alcohol consumption is still fraught with cultural and social dissent. Health establishments are similarly poles apart in their recommendations for alcohol consumption. While some may advocate regular consumption of a moderate amount,the other may endorse restrain or even a complete forbiddance. This has led to an ambiguity regarding alcohol intake among the public. Those suffering from heart disease are no exception and some may take liquor erroneously believing that it has great curative effect.

ALCOHOL & THE HEART
Alcohol has been implicated in a number of heart ailments including causing and worsening of heart failure,cholesterol abnormalities,rhythm disturbances,high blood pressure and obesity. There had been conflicting reports of moderate alcohol beverages,particularly wine consumption of less than two drinks per day and its health benefits. But statistics may vary and are manipulative,so this cannot be accepted as global health directive. Biological effects of wine components in human beings have not been fully demonstrated. Not all epidemiological surveys have found protection from alcoholic beverages and in African-Americans; alcohol consumption is a risk factor for heart disease.Excessive binge drinking is positively correlated with an increased risk of developing alcoholism,heart attack,stroke,liver and pancreatic disorders,neurological disorders,malabsorption and even cancer.

ALCOHOL IS NO MEDICINE
Scientific literature about light to moderate alcohol consumption had been so superfluous that people tend to accept its consumption as medicine. Even non-drinkers are tempted to consume alcohol accepting it to possess immense healing benefits. The dividing line between moderate intake and binge ingestion is thin and difficult to draw due to inebriated effects of the same. In a recently published GENACIS Canada (Gender Alcohol and Culture: an International Study) study,it was observed that sipping wine,beer or spirits three to four times per week increases the risk of binge drinking,particularly among both genders and all age groups. The study had included close to 11,000 participants and investigators believed that regular,light to moderate consumptions leads to tolerance of alcohol in the body. Such daily drinkers may need to become binge drinkers to make a difference with everyday life and that of a celebration. The investigators went on to suggest prudence and caution for any public recommendation to drink moderately. The trial has questioned setting up of a daily limit of alcohol ingestion and warns cross-over of “moderate health drinkers” to bingers and boozers over time. Unlike,in the Western world,where alcohol has become eternally allied to all rituals,tragedies and celebrations of life,in our country due respect is deserved for such a trial and those especially with risk factors for cardiovascular disease must display wariness in this seemingly addicting and unavoidable potion of infatuation.

(The writer is an interventional senior consultant cardiologist at Fortis hospital,Mohali and INSCOL Hospital,Chandigarh)