Frequent drinking is greater risk factor for heart rhythm disorder than binge drinking

https://www.eurekalert.org/pub_releases/2019-10/esoc-fdi101619.php

News Release 17-Oct-2019
European Society of Cardiology

Drinking small amounts of alcohol frequently is linked with a higher likelihood of atrial fibrillation than binge drinking, according to research published today in EP Europace, a journal of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC).1

'Recommendations about alcohol consumption have focused on reducing the absolute amount rather than the frequency,' said study author Dr Jong-Il Choi, of Korea University College of Medicine and Korea University Anam Hospital, Seoul, Republic of Korea. 'Our study suggests that drinking less often may also be important to protect against atrial fibrillation.'

Atrial fibrillation is the most common heart rhythm disorder and raises the risk of stroke by five-fold.2 Symptoms include palpitations, racing or irregular pulse, shortness of breath, tiredness, chest pain and dizziness.3

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