Women who binge drink have a higher risk than men

• Coronary heart disease is the third leading cause of death globally, with cisgender women at a higher risk.
• A recent study shows a woman’s risk of developing heart disease may increase depending on the amount of alcohol consumed.
• The findings suggest that women who binge drink have a 68% higher risk of developing heart disease compared to a 33% increased risk for men.

According to researchers, coronary heart disease is currently the third leading cause of death in the world and is linked to 17.8 million deaths each year.

A type of cardiovascular disease, coronary heart disease occurs when cholesterol builds up on the inside of artery walls, forming plaques that make it difficult for blood to flow to the heart.

Cisgender women are at a higher risk for developing coronary heart disease than men due to size and structural differences in the heart and hormonal changes that happen when a woman ages.

Now, researchers from Kaiser Permanente Northern California have found that a woman’s chance of developing coronary heart disease can also increase depending on the amount of alcohol consumed.

The study — presented at the American College of Cardiology’s Annual Scientific Session April 6–8 — also found men with a high intake of alcohol also had an increased risk of developing coronary heart disease. The research has yet to be published in a peer-reviewed journal.