Scientists Say What's More Bad For The Heart: Binge On Weekends Or Moderate Binge Every Day

Scientists say what's more bad for the heart: binge on weekends or moderate binge every day

It turns out that the rhythm of alcohol consumption affects the likelihood of severe heart rhythm disturbances. A new study shows that atrial fibrillation is more likely to develop in daily drinkers than in weekend drinkers.

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It turns out that the rhythm of alcohol consumption affects the likelihood of severe heart rhythm disturbances. A new study, published in the EP Eurospace journal, shows that atrial fibrillation or atrial fibrillation is more likely to develop in daily drinkers than in weekend drinkers.

In other words, drinking one to two "drinks" (12-24 g of pure alcohol) per day increases the risk of arrhythmia more than drinking on weekends.

“Recommendations for alcohol consumption were aimed at reducing the absolute amount, not the frequency. Our research shows that drinking less is also important to protect against atrial fibrillation,”said study author Dr. Jong-Il Choi of Korea University College of Medicine.

Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder and increases the risk of stroke fivefold. Symptoms include rapid or irregular heartbeat, shortness of breath, fatigue, chest pain, and dizziness. For a long time, this condition can be asymptomatic.

Previous studies have already noted a strong link between alcohol consumption and atrial fibrillation. The risk increases by 8% for every 12 grams of alcohol per week. However, until now, it was unclear which is more influencing: the total amount of alcohol consumed or how often a person drinks it.

In the new study, scientists analyzed data from nearly 10 million people and found that people who drank daily had the highest risk of developing arrhythmias among all study participants. The lowest risk was in those who drank only once a week, even if they drank a lot of alcohol at a time (more than 60 g of pure alcohol).

Scientists studied 9,776,956 people without atrial fibrillation who underwent a general health examination in 2009 and reported their drinking habits. The participants were supervised until 2017. During the observation, scientists paid special attention to episodes of atrial fibrillation and cases of hospitalization with such a diagnosis.

The authors note that in relation to the risk of atrial fibrillation, frequent alcohol consumption, albeit in small doses, is more dangerous than rare alcohol consumption, but in large quantities. Scientists also emphasize that alcohol can lead to sleep disturbances, which also contribute to atrial fibrillation.

Some studies have shown a link between moderate alcohol consumption and a reduced risk of dying from heart disease, but in these studies it is difficult to distinguish between cause and effect. For example, it is possible that those who drink red wine have higher incomes and are able to purchase healthier foods. Other studies have also shown that moderate consumption of red wine can lead to mild increases in "good" HDL (high-density lipoprotein) cholesterol, but exercise, fruits, vegetables, and grape juice can do the same.