Knocking back as little as four drinks on a night out puts young adults at risk of heart disease, new research suggests.
Adults under 45 who regularly binge – defined as five or more drinks in men or four in women – are more likely to have high blood pressure, cholesterol and blood-sugar levels, a study found today.
All three of these raise a person’s risk of suffering heart disease, such as a heart attack, stroke or chest pain.
Lead author Professor Mariann Piano, from Vanderbilt University School, said: ‘Compared to previous generations, the intensity – number of drinks – and regularity – several times per week – of binge drinking may place today’s young adult at greater risk for alcohol-attributable harm.
‘Young adults need to be aware that the consequences of repeated binge drinking may harm their hearts. The risk extends beyond poor school performance and increased risk for accidental injury.’
To keep their alcohol risk low, Drinkaware recommends adults consume no more than 14 units a week, which is around six glasses of wine. The American Heart Association advises a maximum of one-to-two drinks for men and one for women.
As little as four drinks on a night out puts young adults at risk of heart disease (stock)
How the research was carried out
The researchers analysed the blood pressure, cholesterol and sugar levels of 4,710 adults aged 18-to-45.
The participants reported whether they binge drink up to 12 times a year, more than a dozen times or not at all.
The researchers found that high frequency binge drinking – more than 12 times a year – was reported by 25.1 per cent of men and 11.8 per cent of women.
Binge drinking 12 times a year or less was reported by 29 per cent of men and 25.1 per cent of women.
Drinking raises a person’s risk of suffering heart disease, such as a heart attack (stock)
Reducing blood pressure may prevent heart disease
Results further suggest binge drinking causes high blood pressure and cholesterol in men, while women suffer from high blood sugar.
Professor Piano said: ‘Implementing lifestyle interventions to reduce blood pressure in early adulthood may be an important strategy to prevent cardiovascular disease later in life.
‘Young adults should be screened and counseled about alcohol misuse, including binge drinking, and advised on how binge drinking may affect their cardiovascular health.’
The findings were published in the Journal of the American Heart Association.