Posted: Updated – 12:18 PM, Thursday – November 3rd
Representative image According to research published in the journal Neurology, the risk of stroke increased with the number of years in which people reported moderate or heavy drinking.
New Delhi: Among young adults in their 20s and 30s, those who drink moderate to high amounts of alcohol may be more likely to suffer a stroke than those who drink little or no alcohol, researchers warn.
The risk of stroke increases with the number of years in which people report moderate or heavy drinking, according to research published in the journal Neurology.
“The incidence of stroke among young adults, which can lead to death and severe disability, has been increasing over the past few decades,” said study author Eue-Keun Choi from Seoul National University in South Korea.
“If we can prevent stroke in young adults by reducing alcohol consumption, that could have a major impact on individual health and the overall burden of stroke on society,” added Cui.
People who drink 105 grams or more per week are considered moderate or heavy drinkers. This equates to 15 ounces per day, or slightly more than one drink per day.
A standard drink contains about 14 grams of alcohol, which is the equivalent of 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of liquor.
More than 1.5 million people participated in the study. A total of 3,153 strokes occurred during the study period.
In studies of two years or more, moderate-to-heavy drinkers were about 20 percent more likely to have a stroke than light or no drinkers.
As the number of years of moderate to heavy drinking increased, so did the risk of stroke.
The risk was increased by 19% for those who were moderate to heavy drinkers at two years, 22% at three years, and 23% at four years.
These results came after the researchers took into account other factors that may affect stroke risk, such as high blood pressure, smoking and body mass index.
This association was primarily due to an increased risk of stroke due to hemorrhagic stroke or cerebral hemorrhage.
“As part of any strategy to prevent stroke, there should be an emphasis on reducing alcohol consumption among young adults with heavy drinking habits,” Choi said.
