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Blog author, Solai Buchanan is an experienced Registered Dietitian and Certified Diabetes Educator with an MS from Columbia Teachers College. She specializes in treating heart disease, diabetes, hypertension, high cholesterol, polycystic ovarian syndrome,and other chronic diseases. She is a provider at a full-service cardiology practice accepting most insurance and staffed with a primary care MD, pediatrician, and cardiologist. Call: 718.894.7907. NYCC is lead by Interventional Cardiologist Sanjeev Palta, MD, FSCAI, FACC. He trained at Cornell-Columbia Presbyterian Hospital and the State University Hospital of Brooklyn. He currently is an Attending Cardiologist at New York Methodist Hospital and Maimonides Medical Center. He is also an Assistant Clinical Professor in the Department of Medicine at Mount Sinai Medical Center. Having performed over 2000 invasive cardiac procedures Dr. Palta’s patients know they are in trusted hands.

Wednesday, March 6, 2013

EVEN A DRINK A DAY BOOSTS RISK FOR CANCER AS WELL AS DANGEROUS IRREGULAR HEARTBEAT


Two new studies indicate that even very moderate alcohol intake can prove detrimental to our health.  In the first study, researchers found that intake as low as a drink a day increases the risk of dying from cancer, and, in the second, it was found that among those with heart disease, very moderate intake increases risk for atrial fibrillation, an irregular heart rhythm that can lead to stroke and/or heart failure.   

In the cancer study, researchers analyzed cancer mortality and alcohol intake data in the U.S. from 2009-2010 and found that 1 in every 30 cancer deaths can be attributed to alcohol consumption.  While heavy drinking increases cancer risk more than moderate intake, as much as 30% of all alcohol-related cancer deaths are linked to drinking 1 ½ or less drinks per day.   Alcohol appears to be an especially important risk factor for breast cancer where 1 in every 6 breast cancer deaths has been attributed to the increased risk that comes from alcohol consumption.  

Commenting on the study findings, lead investigator Dr. David Nelson stated “Alcohol is a cancer-causing agent that's in plain sight, but people just don't see it.  Moderate drinking has been associated with heart benefits, but, in the broader context of all the issues and all the problems that alcohol is related to, alcohol causes 10 times as many deaths as it prevents.  There is really no safe level of alcohol use.” 

Previous studies have shown drinking is a risk factor for cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, colon, rectum and, in women, breast cancer.  It is believed alcohol acts as a chemical irritant to sensitive cells, impeding their DNA repair as well as increasing their vulnerability to other carcinogens such as tobacco smoke.  In women, alcohol’s impact on estrogen levels and estrogen receptors is believed to drive increases in breast cancer rates.   

Another recent study found that moderate alcohol consumption increases risk of experiencing atrial fibrillation (a-fib) among those with heart disease or diabetes.  Binge drinking has long been known to increase episodes of a-fib but the effect that moderate alcohol consumption has on rates of a-fib has been debated. 
Several studies have suggested that moderate alcohol intake - up to one drink a day for women, up to two for men can help to prevent coronary heart disease - where cholesterol-containing "plaque" builds up in the arteries.  However, this latest study suggests that when people already have heart issues, moderate drinking is actually tied to more A-fib cases. For five years, the study tracked more than 30,000 older adults who either had clogged arteries, a history of stroke, or diabetes with heart health problems. Most had coronary heart disease.  Researchers found that even after controlling for age, weight, and cigarette smoking, compared to those who abstained, those who were moderate alcohol consumers had a 14% increased risk for a-fib. 

Commenting on the findings, lead researcher Dr. Yan Liang wrote, “In general, experts say that if you're already a moderate drinker it's probably okay to keep it up.  But, for people with certain chronic health problems, the new results may question that guidance.  Our findings suggest that older individuals with cardiovascular disease or diabetes should probably limit their alcoholic beverages to no more than 1 drink per week".

What to do:  If you already abstain, continue to do so.  If you already have irregular heartbeat, a-fib, a history of stroke, congestive heart failure, or advanced heart disease it is usually advised that you avoid alcohol.  If you do not have advanced heart disease and you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation.  Even infrequent binge drinking has been shown to detrimental.  Moderate drinking means having up to one drink a day for women and up to two for men.  One drink is defined as 0.6-fluid ounces of pure alcohol which translates into about 10-ounces of beer, 4-ounces of wine or 1 ¼ ounces of liquor.  The antioxidants in red wine, believed to confer some of its associated heart health benefits, are also found in grapes, grape juice, blueberries, blackberries, mulberries, peanuts, and pistachios.

Adapted from articles available at:

Sources:
Nelson DE, Jarman DW, Rehm J, Greenfield TK, Rey G, Kerr WC, Miller P, Shield KD, Ye Y, Naimi TS. Alcohol-attributable cancer deaths and years of potential life lost in the United States. American Journal of Public Health, Feb. 14, 2013, doi: 10.2105/AJPH.2012.301199

Liang Y, Mente A, Yusuf S, Gao P, Sleight P, Zhu J, Fagard R, Lonn E, Teo KK, Alcohol consumption and the risk of incident atrial fibrillation among people with cardiovascular disease.  CMAJ October 1, 2012, doi:10.1503/cmaj.120412  Available at http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2012/10/01/cmaj.120412.abstract

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