A Drink a Day Keeps Heart Attacks at Bay

High blood pressure or hypertension is one of the several 'risk factors' that can increase the chance of developing heart disease, stroke, heart failure, arterial aneurysm, and is the leading cause for chronic renal failure.

Till now, doctors have suggested patients suffering from high blood pressure to increase their activity levels, cut salt consumption and eat fewer high fat foods to reduce the chances of any complications.

However, new study conducted by researchers found out that drinking moderately can cut the risk of heart attacks in men suffering from high blood pressure.

In the research led by Joline Beulens of Wageningen University in the Netherlands, 11,711 men suffering from high blood pressure were studied, and the doctors asked them to consume a drink daily.

Participants were even asked to fill a questionnaire every four years and report how often they drank beer, red wine, white wine and spirits. The researchers also kept track of how many men suffered from heart attacks, heart diseases and strokes between 1986 and 2002.

It was found that a total of 653 suffered heart attacks of which 279 were fatal.

The maintenance of questionnaire's helped the researchers to conclude that men who consumed one or two drinks a day, did not suffer from heart attacks or heart diseases.

"This was the first study to our knowledge that examined the risk of heart attacks among men with high blood pressure who drank moderately", Beulens said.

"Men diagnosed with hypertension probably get a lot of advice on how to change their lifestyle, physical activity and diet. This study indicates that if they drink alcohol in moderation they may not need to change their drinking habits",he added.

She also advised men not to drink more than two glasses a day, as that increases blood pressure and subsequently, the chance of having an heart attack.

"Our findings are not a license for men with hypertension to overindulge," she said.

The researchers also said that they are not sure if these findings applied to women as well, since the study was conducted only on men.