The cardiovascular effects of alcohol.

The central fact about the relations of alcohol consumption to cardiovascular (CV) conditions is disparity. There is powerful evidence that susceptible persons suffer heart muscle damage from use of large amounts of alcoholic beverages, leading to alcoholic cardiomyopathy. Thiamine deficiency has CV consequences which may interact with heavy drinking in persons with poor nutritional intake. Substantial evidence links alcohol use to hypertension. Intervention studies demonstrate an apparent pressor effect of alcohol, which appears and regresses within several days. Alcohol use is inversely related to coronary heart disease (CAD); possible protective mechanisms have surfaced. The data provide no evidence which justify heavier alcohol intake.