Let's face it, more than an occasional drink is consumed on Seabrook from time to time - at least at our home.  There has been and will continue to be the question of how much is too much when it comes to alcoholic beverage consumption.  The State is about to change the legal limit of blood alcohol and the definition of driving under the influence making it more easier to be classified as under the influence.  There are no studies that I am aware of that relate the blood or breath analyzer alcohol level with risk of heart disease, cancer or stroke the big three concerns we have with regard to healthy aging. However, there are some studies that relate the amount of alcohol consumed per day and the risk (chance) of having a stroke.
   
Latest Study
An analysis of the world's literature on the question of does drinking influence the incidence of stroke was recently published from Tulane University.  The results are instructional.  What was examined was the effect of alcohol intake and whether people had the two classifications of total stroke, ischemic or hemorrhagic.  All of the studies included a reference group of non-drinkers to determine if alcohol might provide protection against stroke.  The effect of gender was also examined.     

The Results
Drinking alcohol is related to the incidence of stroke.  In general the more alcohol that is consumed on the excessive side the greater the risk for the development of a stroke.  This is true of both types of stroke (ischemic and hemorrhagic).  However there is a caveat that if little or so called moderate amounts of alcohol are consumed there is some protection against an ischemic stroke.  What is moderate consumption?  Less than 1 drink per day is associated with protection against an ischemic stroke compared to no drinks per day or more than 2 drinks per day.  One to 2 drinks per day protects against ischemic stroke but not hemorrhagic.  If one drinks 5 or more drinks per day it is high risk behavior with regard to both types of strokes (and other things as well!).  There is evidence that women benefit more than men from moderate alcohol consumption.  

MUSCHealth.com Online Health Library Related Links:
Stroke: Risk Factors

Other Online Resources:
MUSC Center for Drug and Alcohol Programs (CDAP)  
American Medical Association: Heavy Alcohol Use Increases  Risk of Stroke 
Alcohol Consumption 
Stroke Risk Factors 
Modest Alcohol Consumption Tempers Stroke Risk in Young Women 

Additional Online Resources outside MUSCHealth.com:
(MedlinePlus, is an excellent source of health information from the world's largest medical library, the National Library of Medicine. Health professionals and consumers alike can depend on it for information that is authoritative and up to date. MedlinePlus has extensive information from the National Institutes of Health and other trusted sources on over 650 diseases and conditions.)

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