Alcohol & Stroke : Do they mix?

People who average more than two alcoholic drinks a day have a 34% higher risk of stroke compared to those who average less than half a drink per day, according to a study published last 2016.

Research shows that drinking large amounts of alcohol can greatly increase your risk of having a stroke. This is because alcohol contributes to a number of medical conditions that are risk factors for stroke:

• High blood pressure is the most important risk factor for stroke, contributing to over 50% of all strokes in the UK. Drinking too much alcohol raises your blood pressure.

• Diabetes doubles your risk of stroke. Drinking alcohol can change the way your body responds to insulin – a hormone that helps use up the sugar in your blood. This can lead to type 2 diabetes.

• Being overweight increases your risk of having a stroke. Alcoholic drinks tend to be very high in calories, so regularly drinking lots of alcohol can make it more difficult to maintain a healthy weight.

• Atrial fibrillation and alcohol Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can trigger atrial fibrillation – a type of irregular heartbeat. Atrial fibrillation increases your risk of stroke by five times

• Liver damage due to too much alcohol can stop the liver from making substances that help your blood to clot. This can increase your risk of having a stroke caused by bleeding in your brain.

Drinking alcohol when you’re taking medication can have harmful effects. Too much alcohol can be particularly harmful if you are on blood-thinning medication. So if you’ve been prescribed medication following your stroke, make sure you ask your neurologist whether you can drink whilst taking it. So, if you’ve had a stroke, it’s important to think about the amount you drink and whether you need to cut down. #stroke #strokerisk #strokecare #alcohol #alcoholdrinker #treatment #cure #physician #neurologist #specialist #strokedoctor #winnielimkhoo #manila #philippines #medicine #health #tips #advise