Four or more drinks: youngsters at severe risk

Here’s a heart health advisory every youngster would do well to keep in mind. If you want to keep your heart healthy and stay away from heart attacks and other diseases, stop binge drinking. According to a new study, binge drinking, or having more than four drinks in row, can increase the risk of heart diseases in young adults later in their life. Almost 5,000 young adults were surveyed for the study, and the results showed that both men and women were affected due to binge drinking. “Compared to previous generations, the pervasiveness, intensity (number of drinks) and regularity (several times per week) of binge drinking may place today’s young adult at greater risk for more profound rates of alcohol-attributable harm,” said Mariann Piano, the lead author of the study published in Journal of the American Heart Association.

High frequency binge drinking (over 12 times a year) was reported by 25.1% of men and 11.8% of women. Binge drinking 12 times a year or less was reported by 29% of men and 25.1% of women. “Young adults need to be aware that the consequences of repeated binge drinking may harm their hearts. The risk extends beyond poor school performance and increased risk for accidental injury,” Piano said.

“Implementing lifestyle interventions to reduce blood pressure in early adulthood may be an important strategy to prevent cardiovascular disease later in life,” Piano said.

“Young adults should be screened and counselled about alcohol misuse, including binge drinking, and advised on how binge drinking may affect their cardiovascular health,” he suggested.