Alcohol and coronary heart disease
By DrRich
Before providing two links to recent articles related to alcohol and coronary heart disease, a disclaimer:
Every time DrRich writes an article on the protective effects of alcohol on the heart, he is inundated with angry e-mails castigating him (a doctor of all people) for encouraging the consumption of demon rum.
For the record: DrRich does not now nor has he ever encouraged anyone to take up drinking. Alcohol poisons many organs of the body when used in excess (and in some people without excessive use) - including the liver, muscles, nerves, brain, bone marrow, and yes, the heart. Accidents caused by people under the influence of alcohol are a major cause of mortality in Western nations. And many individuals are prone to become addicted to alcohol, and are simply unable to limit their consumption to levels that may be beneficial to the heart. Indeed, it is undeniable that alcohol remains a major public health problem, causing far more harm than good when averaged over the population. Frankly, DrRich doesn't know why they don't make the stuff illegal. (Oh, wait. They tried that once.)
Nonetheless. The fact is that alcohol IS freely (and legally) available to the public, and therefore, necessarily, individuals must make a personal decision as to whether or not they are going to consume. Furthermore, there are many individuals who, despite their best efforts to live healthy lifestyles and follow their doctors' instructions, remain at high risk for coronary artery disease, heart attacks, and death.
Quite simply, despite the exhortations of the anti-alcohol groups (with whom, most of the time, DrRich agrees) and of various medical professional organizations (which advise doctors not to publicize positive information about alcohol), DrRich finds it cruel (if not unusual) to withhold information from these high-risk individuals that might help them reduce their odds of fatal heart disease.
As for the rest of you: don't drink. In fact, if you expect to find the information contained herein offensive, just skip these articles:
Oh, oh. Alcohol really IS good for the heart.
How alcohol protects the heart
Join the discussion: alcohol and the heart
What do you think? Enter the Heart Disease Forum:
