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Heart Disease In The News Doctors urged NOT to tout health benefits of alcohol A special plea from an American Heart Association advisory panel, published in this month's Circulation, urges doctors to refrain from encouraging alcohol ingestion as a means of reducing cardiovascular risk. Over 60 studies have shown that moderate alcohol ingestion (the equivalent of 1 or 2 drinks per day) increases HDL cholesterol levels (the "good" cholesterol) by approximately 12 percent. Other studies suggest that certain populations that consume wine regularly have a low incidence of cardiac disease despite high-fat diets. Such data has led to widespread interest in the possibility that alcohol can protect from cardiovascular disease. The American Heart Association panel points out that this hypothesis has never been tested scientifically in a randomized clinical trial, and that alcohol, an addictive substance, causes many severe health problems if consumed in more than small amounts. The panel points to proven methods of reducing risks, such as exercise, diet, weight control and medications, and says doctors should keep quiet about alcohol until better data is available. Take our poll: Should doctors tell patients of the potential health benefits of alcohol? |
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