My sweet little grandmother lived to be nearly 101 years old. Descended from early Texian settlers, she was the classic west Texas cattle rancher and active in the business until her late 90s. Always the lady, she never went into town without being attired in her little pill box hat, matching shoes and handbag, and, of course, white gloves. A spiritual woman, we never saw a drop of alcohol pass her lips - that is, except at bedtime. Each evening, she indulged in a little “hot toddy” (purely for “medicinal” purposes only - or so she said) just before retiring. Her body gave out long before her heart, which was the like the Energizer Bunny - it just kept on going and going and going. Even her doctors asserted that her heart was amazingly strong.
As it turns out, that little hot toddy each evening just may have contributed to her amazing heart health. HeartRhythm (journal of the Heart Rhythm Society) published the results of a long-term study in its October 2010 edition which found a positive correlation between light alcohol consumption and a reduction in sudden cardiac death (SCD) in women. According to the Heart Rhythm Society, SCD is a wide-spread problem with approximately 250,000 people dying each year from sudden cardiac arrest (SCA).
The long-term study began in 1980 and was not completed until 2006. One of the largest of its kind, researchers followed 85,067 participants over the course of the study. It’s worth noting that this study was the first of its kind to focus solely on women. All of the participants were women and ranged in age from 34 years young, with the oldest participant being 59 years. All participants were also registered nurses and a part of the Nurses Health Study. Researchers specifically examined the effect of alcohol consumption in women on their risk of SCD. In addition, researches also examined how SCD risk stacked up in relationship to risk of other heart diseases (coronary heart disease or CHD) in women.
Information was gathered from the study participants by questionnaire. Every two years, participants were asked to provide information regarding their medical history, along with information regarding their lifestyle risk factors for cardiovascular disease. Every four years, participants were asked to provide information on alcohol consumption and diet. With respect to alcohol consumption, researchers gathered information regarding the:
• type of alcohol consumed (hard liquor, wine, or beer)
• type of alcohol consumer (abstainer, former drinker, or current drinker)
• for current drinkers, the amount of alcohol consumed on a daily basis (more than 1/2, 1/2 to 1, 1 to 2, or 2 or more drinks per day)
Overall, researchers found that women who abstained did not lessen their risk of SCD. In fact, women who consumed some alcohol had a lower risk of CSD than their abstaining counterparts. Finding highlights are as follows:
• 1/2-1 drink per day fared the best with a 36 percent lower risk of CSD than abstainers
• 1-2 drinks per day also reported much lower risk of CSD than abstaining counterparts
• Women consuming 2 drinks per day had about the same risk of CSD as women who abstained (Researchers reported that overall very few women reported drinking more than two glasses of alcohol per day.)
• The type of alcohol consumed (beer, wine, hard liquor, or Grandma’s little hot toddy) did not make a difference on the risk for SCD.
This study was significant for several reasons. Firstly, it was focused solely on women and all participants were women. Secondly, researchers specifically examined alcohol consumption as it related to SCD. While much research has been done conducted regarding the benefits of alcohol consumption and other forms of cardiovascular disease, little research has been conducted examining SCD.
At the end of the day, researchers recommend that women limit alcohol consumption to no more than one drink per day. Also, you’ll want to balance the benefit of alcohol consumption in terms of reduced risk of heart disease against possible risks, such as an increased risk of stroke, cancer, atrial fibrillation, or some chronic conditions.
Mary Kyle is a freelance writer, editor, and project manager. She has a Master of Arts in Legal Studies, a Bachelor of Music, and multiple professional certifications in project management. In addition to health advocacy, she is passionate about literacy and volunteers in local schools teaching writing seminars and reading.
Source:
Stephanie E. Chiuve, ScD, et al, Light-to-moderate alcohol consumption and risk of sudden cardiac death in women, Heart Rhythm Journal (Heart Rhythm 2010:7:1374-1380), October 2010.
Complete study results are available at:
http://download.journals.elsevierhealth.com/pdfs/journals/1547-5271/PIIS1547527110005187.pdf