Let us clarify this situation right off the bat, everything in excess is bad for your health, consuming and excessive amount of alcohol on a daily basis will without a doubt increase the risk of stroke. Now that we got that out of the way let's move on to the actual studies and findings regarding the link between alcohol and stroke.
A stroke occurs when the brain stops receiving the vital oxygen which is carried by blood which flows through the blood vessels, the brain can stop receiving oxygen due to an obstruction (Ischemic stroke) or because of a ruptured vessel (hemorrhagic) -- according to recent medical studies stroke is the third leading cause of death among Americans and is also a major cause of disability. Out of all the people who survive a stroke about 20% need institutionalized care and nearly 30% are permanently disabled.
In 2003, Journal of the American Medical Association, researchers from Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine provided heavy evidence which indicates that an excessive consumption of alcohol can increase the risk of stroke while low to moderate consumption can protect against it.
Nearly half a million men and women were involved in the research, all of them were from different parts of the world and a total of 35 observational studies were conducted, in order to compare the results of people who drink alcohol to those who don't a group of individuals called "controls" were kept from consuming any alcohol. The findings were nothing less than eye opening:
Excessive alcohol consumption:
Compared to controls (people who didn't consuming alcohol) people who consumed 60 g of any alcoholic beverage (the equivalent of five drinks) suffer from a serious elevated risk of stroke, they had a 64% elevated risk of suffering from total stroke which is a combination of hemorrhagic and ischemic, they had a 69% risk of suffering from ischemic and an alarming 118% risk of suffering from hemorrhagic.
Light to moderate alcohol consumption:
Compared to controls subjects who consumed less than 12 g a day (the equivalent of one drink) lower the risk of total stroke by as much a 17 % and the risk of ischemic was reduced by as much as 20%. Those who consume two drinks a day or between 12 to 24 g which is considered moderate, were able to reduce the risk of ischemic stroke by as much as 28%, anything beyond that amount of daily alcohol consumption doesn't provide any additional benefit when it comes to preventing the devastating effects of a stroke.
The results are somewhat controversial because most people will consume alcohol do not know the boundaries between though, moderate and excessive alcohol consumption.
Related Articles
The Top Ten Habits Of The Healthiest Drinkers
By: Eileen Gravelle | 26/02/2007 | Health
Next time you find yourself groaning and saying "never again" - stop for a while to consider the harmful effects of alcohol on your body. There is a good and a bad way to drink alcohol and many of us take the low road every time!
So why not kick-start your...
Emotional Eating: 5 Tips for a Lifelong Challenge
By: Carol Solomon, Ph.d. | 26/09/2005 | Weight Loss
Here's a note from my inbox: Hi Carol, Thank you so much for this week's newsletter. I have often said that food (simple carbs and sugar) are as addictive as drugs and alcohol. Although, I try not to limit myself to...
Teens and Alcohol
By: Keith Allen | 22/06/2006 | Health
It's the standard at every weekend party: a case of beer, a keg, many hard liquor bottles and mixed drinks. Alcohol is everywhere these days, and teens can't keep their hands off it.
Substance Abuse Will Not Take Away Your Anxieties
By: Stanley Popovich | 14/10/2006 | Self Help
The key is to be smart in how you try to manage these fears. Here are some ways in how to manage your persistent fears and anxieties.
What is the Most Addictive Drug?
By: John McMahon | 23/01/2007 | Health
A common debate is what drug is most addictive. This article offers a discussion of some measures of addiction and a comparison of various legal and illegal drugs on these measures.
Drinking Alcohol Destroying Your Life And Those Around You?
By: Ed Philips | 15/03/2007 | Advice
This is a good question and the first thing that needs to happen is you must decide if you really want to take this step. Examine the information in these next few paragraphs and decide if maybe the time has come to make some changes.
Can you stop drinking?
Has drinking affected...
Bible Versus Quran Versus Sciences, (55) the First Glass of Wine
By: Prof.dr. Ibrahim Khalil | 11/05/2007 | Religion
Many millions of innocent people had been killed, slaved and abused because of the First Glass of Wine.
According to the Bible, Noah cursed Ham's son, Canaan because of the First Glass of Wine. This is a typical example of biblical injustice, and is one of many Bible passages that have been used to justify Slavery, Racism and Color Discrimination.
On the other hand, the Quran denies this story of the First Glass of Wine which hand horrible impacts on mankind.
The Fattening Effects of Alcohol
By: Roger Grant | 10/07/2007 | Weight Loss
It is no surprise that alcohol impairs mental and physical functioning, and that it is a depressant. Many people are also aware that alcohol is fattening, but the reason is less well known. The reason why alcohol is fattening is due to its effects on the Krebs cycle, which are profound. The consequences are far reaching and some of these effects remain long after alcohol is no longer present in the system. Although the negative effects of alcohol are many, this article will focus primarily on those that affect fat loss and fat gain.
Got a Question? Ask.
Ask the community a question about this article:
Frequently Asked Questions
I need serious help. two years ago i lost a lot of ...
By: Lenniebens | 17-07-2008
I need serious help. two years ago i lost a lot of weight and became anorexia. but i got help from my doctor and a counselor but i never got over the whole eating disorder. but i got to a healthier weight and ate healthy and really restircted my diet. but then after a year (with my parents always on my back and saying to eat more or dont exercise that much) i started to look at food at a comforting. so i gained like 12lbs in a month from binging and i cant stop!! so like yesterday i started to purge. but god i hate how fat i got. i promised my mom i would never purge. :( god idk what to do, i hate food but i love it. im never happy anymore. please help
Dull teeth
By: SD | 16-07-2008
How do you brighten porcelain laminates?
Dosage for namenda
By: Peter | 16-07-2008
husband has been put on Namenda 5 mg P.O. BID - has dimentia, currently taking aricept 10 mg per day - Dr advised adding the namenda to his aricept to help with the dimentia. I am reading that the dosing instrctions from the internet stating 5 mg tab every day for one week, followed by 5 mg morning and one at night the second week, then 10 mg every morning then 5 mg tab night for the third week, 10 mg tab every morning and night for the 4th week and afterwards - yet prescription given to us yesterday states 5 mg P.O. BID with (#60 tabliets) meaning we get 60 tabs each month. My question is as follows - with the sixty @ 5 mg each tab does that mean he will take 2 tabs each day which would equate to 60 tabs - I am confused
Do playing games daily make us thin and lean?will ...
By: no | 16-07-2008
Do playing games daily make us thin and lean?will it not affect our health?
Accurate alcohol testing
By: Lane | 16-07-2008
We have a family member who is subject to periodic random alcohol testing.
In hopes of keeping him clean and out of trouble we purchased a high quality tester, but even when we are sure he has been drinking he tests OK. We sent the unit back and tried another with same results. How is he fooling us? We are desparate to help him.
In the state of ga what age would you have to be ...
By: yvonne | 15-07-2008
In the state of ga what age would you have to be to sell alcohol at a gas station?
Q&A Powered by:
Health 
| Posted: 18-05-2008 | Comments: 
