Moderate alcohol consumption may alter the structure of the heart and increase the risk of atrial fibrillation, according to a new study published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Atrial fibrillation is an irregular and often rapid heart rate. The condition can increase an individual's risk of stroke, heart failure and other heart-related complications. Alcohol was previously noted as a potential risk factor for atrial fibrillation, but little information has been uncovered regarding the mechanisms that create the risk.
For the study, researchers examined data from more than 5,000 adults that reported drinking, on average, just one drink per day. The overall rate of atrial fibrillation in the group was 8.4 cases per 1,000 people per year. Over a 10-year time span, 8 out of 100 people were likely to develop atrial fibrillation. Further analysis revealed each additional drink per day was associated with a 5 percent increase in the yearly risk. Every additional drink per day was also linked to a 0.16 millimeter enlargement of the left atrium, suggesting the possible physical damage that can be caused by alcohol use.
The study's findings highlight the complicated relationship between alcohol and the heart, as moderate alcohol use has previously been tied to a reduce risk of heart attack.
"I'm constantly trying to remind people that there are various forms of heart disease and not all are related to heart attack," said Gregory Marcus, MD, endowed professor of atrial fibrillation research at University of California San Francisco and senior author of the study. "Atrial fibrillation is growing in importance as our success in preventing heart attack grows."
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