Alcohol Consumption Can Cause Complications to Heart Disease

Question

I have early stage heart disease and my doctor says I need to quit smoking and drinking. I know the smokes are killing me so I cant make any more excuses but quit but I did not know that drinking beer only was bad for my heart. If I cut down and I only have 1 or 2 beers every day isn’t that supposed to be a good thing for my heart. I think it would be much easier for me to have 1 or 2 a day rather than not be able to have any at all. I have been drinking about 12 a day for a while.

John O'Neal · Accepted Answer

The American Heart Association (AHA) warns that any miniscule benefit received, like a slight increase the HDL cholesterol (good cholesterol) from alcohol consumption does not merit its use when there are many vegetable and fruit sources for increased HDL. Its recommendation is that if you have a heart condition, currently are drinking, you should only drink moderately. What is moderate drinking? According to the AHA, moderate drinking for men is no more than two drinks per day and for women no more than one drink per day. The AHA reports that excessive alcohol consumption has been associated with high blood pressure, increased caloric intake, diabetes, obesity, heart failure, stroke, cardiomyopathy, cardiac arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death. In other words, the rewards are low for consuming alcohol, and the risk can be high.

My question is “Why are you going against the medical advice of your doctor?” Do you think you doctor is not giving sound medical advice. Drinking 12 beers per day could constitute alcohol abuse, if not alcoholism. Have you ever tried to stop or decrease your consumption before? If you decide to reduce your alcohol intake to two beers per day without any problems, may mean you are only a heavy drinker. But, it you can’t “control” your intake to two beers per day, you may need to consider being alcohol dependent or in strong denial.

Since this is your life, we are considering, I would encourage you to discuss your drinking plans with your physician. If there is any possibility that you could be alcohol dependent, you may want to consider an alcohol and drug evaluation by a substance abuse professional. The only prominent idea which stands out in your inquiry is this: “you don’t want to give up alcohol completely even when drinking alcohol puts your health at risk.” What is drinking this idea?

My hope is that you will consider how your drinking could have impact on your heart disease. If I can be of further help, please let me know.

Respectfully,

John W. O’Neal, Ed.S, MSW, MA, LPC, NCC

About the Expert