A report published by the European Heart Journal reveals people who consumed 12g of ethanol a day were 16 per cent more likely to develop “atrial fibrillation”. What does this mean? It means consuming just one glass of your favorite drink can increase the risk of an irregular heartbeat or heart rate. 12g ethanol is equivalent to a 120ml of wine, 330ml beer, or 40mls of spirits.
The report states that atrial fibrillation is a condition characterised by an irregular and often rapid heart rate, which can cause dizziness and palpitations. It can also make people more susceptible to strokes. The study revealed the risk of atrial fibrillation increased steadily with the amount of participants drank, from 16 per cent for those who had one small drink a day, to even 28 per cent for up to two drinks, and 47 per cent for those who drank more than four drinks.
A media report quoted Professor Renate Schnabel, a consultant cardiologist and co-author of the study at the University Heart and Vascular Center in Hamburg-Eppendorf as saying the “risk of developing an irregular heartbeat for those consuming a small glass of alcohol a day was small” but that people should “still be aware”.
“The take-home message is that in contrast to other cardiovascular diseases, even low and moderate alcohol consumption leads to an increased risk of atrial fibrillation. One of the bad things about atrial fibrillation is that it’s asymptomatic and can lead to other problems such as stroke. In many people, a stroke is the first manifestation of the disease,” she was quoted as saying.
