If drinking may be a problem for your heart

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Most people don't think deeply about alcohol damages and its effects- but they should. Alcohol has destroyed many lives and broken apart many families. Those who drink risk becoming an alcoholic. It impairs your judgment and affects the way you think, feel and communicate. The cause of alcoholism is unknown, but, like heart disease, there are both controllable and uncontrollable risk factors.

Do you wonder about alcohol damages if alcohol drinking may be a problem for you? To find out you may check do you ever have hangovers? Have you ever driven while intoxicated? Have you ever injured yourself or other persons after alcohol drinking? And much more. Numerous studies suggest that moderate alcohol consumption helps protect against heart disease by raising HDL cholesterol and reducing plaque accumulations in your arteries.

Alcohol also has a mild anti-coagulating effect, keeping platelets from clumping together to form clots. Both actions can reduce risk of heart attack but exactly how alcohol influences either one still remains unclear. Alcohol drinking more than three drinks a day has a direct toxic effect on the heart. Heavy drinking, particularly over time, can damage the heart and lead to high blood pressure, alcoholic cardiomyopathy, congestive heart failure, and stroke. Heavy drinking puts more fat into the circulation in your body, raising your triglyceride level.

That's why doctors will tell you "If you don't drink, don't start". There are other, healthier ways to reduce your risk of heart disease like eating right, getting regular exercise and maintaining a healthy weight. And more over order up a glass of water and some food. Drink the water right away so that you are not drinking alcohol just to quench a thirst. Having food to eat will slow the absorption rate of the alcohol and keep your hands busy.

Alcohol damage and alcohol withdrawal is treatable but only if the person who is drinking is willing to admit she has a problem and is willing to accept help. Alcoholism is a disease that is characterized by denial, so, while you may not be able to change the behavior of someone you love, you still need to get help for yourself because alcoholism becomes a family illness.