If you are like many Americans, you probably drink alcohol, at least on occasion. Previous studies have shown that moderate drinking (one drink a day for women or anyone over 65, and two drinks a day for men under 65) is probably safe, and may even have health benefits. However, heavy alcohol consumption can negatively affect almost every system in the body, and new findings indicate that women face greater risks to their heart health than their male counterparts.
A Japanese Collaborative Cohort Study, led by Dr. Hiroyasu Iso, professor of public health at Osaka University, followed 34,776 men and 48,906 women to analyze the effects alcohol consumption had on the different genders. The study participants, with ages ranging from 40 to 79, were followed for an average of 14.2 years. During that time, 1,628 subjects died from stroke and 736 died from coronary heart disease.
