Binge Drinking and Hypertension Increase Risk of Cardiovascular Death
Binge drinking, the habit of consuming large amounts of alcohol in a short amount of time, is an activity that can put any individual at risk. According to a study conducted by the Department of Preventive Medicine at Yonsei University College of Medicine in Seoul, South Korea, and featured in a Science Daily release, a combination of high blood pressure and binge drinking can be life threatening.
This study determined that for those with high blood pressure, binge drinking can dramatically raise the risk of stroke or heart-related death. When compared with non-drinkers with blood pressure at normal levels, the risk of death due to cardiovascular issues in men with high blood pressure was three times higher overall.
The study also found that these men had a risk of death that was four times higher if they were binge drinkers who consumed six or more drinks on one occasion. The risk jumped to 12 times higher if the individuals were heavy drinkers who consumed 12 or more drinks on one occasion.
To reach such conclusions, researchers followed more than 6,100 residents aged 55 years or older who lived within an agricultural community in South Korea. The study participants were tracked for nearly 21 years. Participants classified as moderate binge drinkers came in at 15 percent, while 3 percent were reported as heavy binge drinkers.
As a study, this research is significant in the field as binge drinking and hypertension are rarely studied together. Both contribute to cardiovascular disease and should be studied together further to determine the level of significance in risks associated with cardiovascular problems, including death.
