- 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
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
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.
According to Dr. Jamal Rana, a cardiologist with The Permanente Medical Group, an adjunct investigator in the Division of Research at Kaiser Permanente Northern California, and the lead author of this study, more awareness is needed on how alcohol can affect heart health.
“When we think about protection against heart disease, the first thing most people think of is: don’t smoke,” Dr. Rana told Medical News Today.
“I think a lot more awareness is needed that alcohol use can be a factor in heart disease risk and that asking about alcohol use should be part of routine health assessments moving forward….
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