Alcohol
Excessive drinking can increase the risk of cardiovascular disorders such as high blood pressure and stroke. People who drink heavily are at risk from developing cardiomyopathy, characterised by an enlarged heart and breathlessness.
Binge drinking can cause abnormal heart rhythms. Alcohol can cause heartburn, obesity, low blood sugar, high blood pressure, brain damage, stroke and chronic heart muscle damage.
Moderate drinking, between one and two units a day, is thought to lower the risk of heart disease in men over 40 and post-menopausal women.
What is a unit of alcohol?
One unit =
• One measure of spirits
• One small glass table wine
• Half a pint of beer or lager
One bottle of alcopop is approximately 1.5 to 2 units. One bottle of strong beer or lager is 2 units.
The body takes about one hour to break down one unit of alcohol.
Men should not drink more than 21 units of alcohol per week.
Women should not drink more than 14 units of alcohol per week with at least two alcohol free days per week.