Excess Alcohol increases Stroke Disease

Stroke

It is a known fact that diabetes and high blood pressure can increase the possibility of developing stroke. Another more dangerous factor has been found in high alcohol consumption in middle age. Heavy drinking in middle age was found to raise the risk of stroke

by 34%, compared with light drinking.

Pavla Kadlecová, a statistician at the International Clinical Research Center of St. Anne's University Hospital in the Czech Republic, and colleagues found that consuming more than two alcoholic drinks a day during middle age increases the risk of stroke by more than a third. The team publishes their findings in Stroke - a journal of the American Heart Association (AHA). AHA recommends alcohol intake should be:
*Not more than two drinks a day(men)
*Not more than one drink(women)

Mrs Gloria Ekeng, Founder, Stroke Care International, said that Nigeria had over 16000 new stroke cases annually. This is an alarming figure

Major Causes of Stroke

-High blood pressure (hypertension)
-Diabetes, 
-Smoking and 
-High cholesterol 
-Heavy alcohol use
Alcohol is more responsible for stroke in age of 50s and 60s. However, high blood pressure and diabetes appeared to be stronger risk factors for stroke from the age of 75 and over.

Benefit of Alcohol?

Medical News Today found that drinking up to seven drinks a week may reduce the risk of heart failure. Much alcohol consumption is negative to health but low level could help the heart.

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