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Alcohol Consumption and Stroke: Benefits and Risks
Author(s) -
Hillborn Matti
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
alcoholism: clinical and experimental research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.267
H-Index - 153
eISSN - 1530-0277
pISSN - 0145-6008
DOI - 10.1111/j.1530-0277.1998.tb04390.x
Subject(s) - medicine , thrombus , alcoholic cardiomyopathy , stroke (engine) , cardiology , blood pressure , alcohol consumption , binge drinking , heavy drinking , cardiomyopathy , alcohol , environmental health , heart failure , injury prevention , poison control , mechanical engineering , biochemistry , chemistry , engineering
The complex relationship between alcohol consumption and stroke includes both benefits and risks. Regular light‐to‐moderate consumption of alcohol seems to decrease the risk for ischemic stroke by reducing atherothrombotic events, but the undertying mechanism is still unclear. Recent and current (but not previous) heavy drinking increases the risk for both hemorrhagic and ischemic strokes. Young and middle‐aged men are stricken more often than women or elderly persons, probably because they are more often current heavy drinkers. Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is a cause of cardioembolic brain infarction. Cardiac arrhythmias caused by regular heavy drinking or binge drinking can precipitate thrombus formation and propagate already existing thrombi from the heart. The maintenance of high blood pressure by heavy drinking may promote cerebral arterial degeneration, but the effect of drinking habits on aneurysm formation is not known. Acute increases in systolic blood pressure and/or alterations in cerebral arterial tone could serve as mechanisms triggering hemorrhagic strokes during alcoholic intoxication. We lack studies to show that prevention of heavy drinking can efficiently influence the occurrence of strokes.