Cardiovascular effects of alcohol.

Epidemiologic studies suggest that moderate consumption of alcohol provides some degree of protection against ischemic heart disease. On the other hand, cerebrovascular accidents and overall mortality are increased at all levels of alcohol intake. Thus, it is inappropriate to advise abstainers to begin to drink alcoholic beverages as a protective measure for coronary artery disease. Acute ingestion of large amounts of alcohol leads to a negative inotropic effect on the myocardium, together with inhibition of a variety of biochemical reactions in subcellular organelles of the heart. Chronic alcoholism is associated with the development of a congestive cardiomyopathy (alcoholic cardiomyopathy), which is independent of vitamin B1 deficiency or other nutritional deficits.