It is well known that people who regularly drink a lot of alcohol have a higher risk of developing heart failure, and this, in turn, can increase the incidence of the heart rhythm disturbance known as atrial fibrillation.
Several studies have shown a slightly higher risk of poor heart health for people who never drink alcohol; they often show that this risk decreases for people who drink a moderate amount, and then increases a lot with more alcohol consumed, creating a “J” shape on the charts. New research has re-examined the problem, with a particular focus on atrial fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation is a common form of cardiac arrhythmia that can lead to very serious problems. Many people in the world suffer from atrial fibrillation. In the United States alone, this figure is, according to an estimate by the American network of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), between 2.7 and 6 million people. Atrial fibrillation occurs when the heartbeat in the upper chambers of the heart is irregular, so blood does not flow properly into the lower chambers. This can cause blood clots, which can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. If diagnosed early, about two-thirds of strokes that result from atrial fibrillation can be prevented by medication. But since the condition often causes ambiguous or no symptoms, it sometimes goes unnoticed.
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