We have long associated a glass of red wine with improved hearth health. It has long been thought that the antioxidants and/or alcohol of one glass of wine contributed to better heart health in the long run. But in truth the connection between wine and a lower incidence of coronary artery disease is not well understood. On the other hand, we know that excessive alcohol consumption is damaging to multiple organs, including the heart. And research is indicating how alcohol, including red wine, can be damaging to the heart. A recent study has connected heart arrhythmias – abnormal heart rhythms – directly with alcohol consumption. What a troubling question this begs: red wine is bad for you now?
The study, published in today’s Annals of Internal Medicine, was admittedly small: only 100 participants. Furthermore, 79 of the study participants were male, and 85 of the participants were white. So, not very diverse. Each of the participants, all volunteers, had a prior history of atrial fibrillation, or A-fib. A-fib is a condition where disorganized electrical signals to the upper chambers of a person’s heart cause it to beat irregularly, causing it to be out of sync with the lower chambers. The condition is often transient and asymptomatic, but can lead to a stroke. Millions of American have A-fib.
The study was designed so that each of the 100 volunteers were outfitted with an electrocardiogram monitor and ankle blood alcohol monitor for four weeks. The volunteer would then record on the ECG device, by pushing a button, each time they consumed an alcoholic beverage.
The researchers discovered an A-fib episode was twice as likely to occur once the volunteer consumed a single drink, and three times as likely with two drinks. And, the higher the volunteer’s BAC, the greater their likelihood of having an arrhythmia. The theory at this stage is that alcohol interferes with the electrical signals of the heart. But how and why is yet to be meted out.
This study will likely lead to more detailed studies of more diverse populations, including people with no prior history of arrhythmias. And, there may be hope yet for wine drinkers as more distinct correlations are figured out.
