Many people have a habit of drinking alcohol and find it difficult to quit, even if they have coronary heart disease and can't resist the urge to take a sip. So can coronary heart disease patients drink alcohol, and what impact does alcohol have on coronary heart disease?
Vasodilation
Drinking a small amount of alcohol has little effect on blood pressure, cardiac output, and myocardial contractility, but it can cause vasodilation, including the coronary arteries.
Preventing blood clot formation
Moderate alcohol consumption can increase high-density lipoprotein, which is beneficial for preventing coronary heart disease. In addition, ethanol can also inhibit platelet aggregation, reducing or preventing blood clot formation.
Increasing cholesterol
Although ethanol can increase the level of high-density lipoprotein and lower the level of low-density lipoprotein in the blood, excessive alcohol consumption can raise cholesterol levels, which is harmful to patients with coronary heart disease.
Increasing cardiac load
After consuming a large amount of alcohol, heart rate increases, oxygen consumption by the heart increases, and cardiac load becomes heavier, increasing the risk of exacerbating or inducing myocardial ischemia, arrhythmias, or myocardial infarction.
Damaging the myocardium
The ethanol contained in alcoholic beverages can directly affect the myocardium, causing damage and disrupting myocardial energy metabolism.
Can coronary heart disease patients drink alcohol?
Considering the few benefits and many drawbacks of alcohol consumption on the cardiovascular system, as well as the potential for causing gastritis, cirrhosis, and other conditions, most experts do not recommend alcohol consumption for patients with coronary heart disease and strictly prohibit excessive drinking.
