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Definition

Studies have shown that adults who drink light to moderate amounts of alcohol may be less likely to develop heart disease than those who do not drink at all or are heavy drinkers. However, people who do not drink alcohol should not start just because they want to avoid developing heart disease.

Alternative Names

Health and wine; Wine and heart disease; Preventing heart disease - wine; Preventing heart disease - alcohol

Information

There is a fine line between healthy drinking and risky drinking. Do not begin drinking or drink more often just to lower your risk of heart disease. Heavier drinking can harm the heart and liver. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in people who abuse alcohol.

Health care providers recommend that if you drink alcohol, drink only light to moderate amounts:

• For men, limit alcohol to 1 to 2 drinks a day.
• For women, limit alcohol to 1 drink a day.

One drink is defined as:

• 4 ounces (118 milliliters, mL) of wine
• 12 ounces (355 mL) of beer
• 1 1/2 ounces (44 mL) of 80-proof spirits
• 1 ounce (30 mL) of 100-proof spirits

Though research has found that alcohol use may be associated with a lower chance of heart disease, much more effective ways to prevent heart disease include:

• Controlling blood pressure and cholesterol
• Exercising and following a low-fat, healthy diet
• Not smoking
• Maintaining an ideal weight

Anyone who has heart disease or heart failure should talk to their provider before drinking alcohol. Alcohol can make heart failure and other heart problems worse.

References

Kloner RA, Rezkalla S. Cardiomyopathies induced by drugs or toxins. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine.12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 84.

Mozaffarian D. Nutrition and cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. In: Libby P, Bonow RO, Mann DL, Tomaselli GF, Bhatt DL, Solomon SD, eds. Braunwald's Heart Disease: A Textbook of Cardiovascular Medicine.12th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2022:chap 29.

Snetselaar LG, de Jesus JM, DeSilva DM, Stoody EE. Dietary guidelines for Americans, 2020-2025: understanding the scientific process, guidelines, and key recommendations. Nutr Today. 2021;56(6):287-295. PMID: 34987271 .