It is well known that people who drink a lot of alcohol regularly have an increased risk of developing heart failure, and this in turn can increase the incidence of heartbeat disorder known as atrial fibrillation.
Several studies have shown a slightly higher risk of poor heart health for people who never drink alcohol; they often show that this risk is reduced for people who drink a modest amount, and then greatly increases as more alcohol is consumed, creating a “J” shape in the graphs. New research has re-examined the issue, paying special attention to atrial fibrillation.
Atrial fibrillation is a common type of cardiac arrhythmia that can lead to very serious problems. Many people in the world suffer from atrial fibrillation. In the United States alone, that figure is estimated by the U.S. Network of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to be between 2.7 and 6 million people. Atrial fibrillation occurs when the beat in the upper chambers of the heart is irregular, so that blood does not flow well into the lower chambers. This can cause blood clots, which can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. If diagnosed early, about two-thirds of brain strokes resulting from atrial fibrillation can be prevented through medication. But since the disorder often produces ambiguous or none symptoms, it is sometimes not detected.
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