Two or More Alcoholic Drinks a Day Linked to Heart Damage in Elderly

Drinking two or more alcoholic beverages on a daily basis may damage the heart of elderly people, says a new research.

The study conducted at American Heart Association suggested that among men, drinking more than 14 alcoholic beverages weekly (heavy drinking) was linked with enlargement of the wall of the heart's main pumping chamber (left ventricular mass).

Alcohol Effects Strike Harder as You Age: Study
A new study has revealed that the effects of alcohol may hit you harder as you age

Dr. Scott Solomon, senior author of the study and professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and director of noninvasive cardiology at Brigham and Women's in Boston, said that women appeared more susceptible than men to the cardiotoxic effects of alcohol, which might potentially contribute to a higher risk of alcoholic cardiomyopathy, for any given level of alcohol intake.

Dr. Alexandra Goncalves, lead author of the study and Postdoctoral Research Fellow at Brigham and Women's in Boston, said that in spite of potential benefits of low alcohol intake, their findings highlight the possible hazards to cardiac structure and function by increased amounts of alcohol consumption in the elderly, particularly among women.

Moderate drinking is generally defined as two drinks a day (beer, wine or liquor) for men and one drink a day for women.

Study Says Many Elderly Britons Drink too Much
A recent study finds that in Britain many elderly people are drinking too much alcohol and should be set lower guideline limits.

Source-Medindia

Even One Glass of Vodka can Steer Old People Off Road
Even one glass of vodka or wine may hit you hard enough to make you a dangerous driver if you are aged 55 or older.

Folic Acid Supplements may Help Reduce Cardiovascular Events in Old People
Supplemental folic acid may be an inexpensive alternative to enhance blood vessel dilation in older adults, thus reducing the risk of heart attack and stroke.