Drink in moderation or not at all

Researchers continue to study whether red wine and other types of alcohol can help the heart. Overall, research suggests that those who drink regular, limited amounts of alcohol, including red wine, seem to have no added risk or maybe a lower risk of:

• A common type of heart disease called coronary artery disease.
• Stroke.
• Sudden death.
• Possibly heart failure.

It's still not clear how this amount of drinking may affect the risk of atrial fibrillation. That is an irregular and often very fast heart rhythm.

Drinking regular, limited amounts of alcohol is called drinking in moderation.

Still, the possible lower risk of heart disease in people who drink red wine in moderation may be linked with some other factors. For instance, these people might eat healthier diets and be more active than those who don't drink red wine. And they might have better access to healthcare as well.

More research is needed about whether red wine is better for the heart than other types of alcohol, such as beer or hard liquor.

The American Heart Association and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute say you should not start to drink alcohol just to prevent heart disease. Some people who drink alcohol have trouble stopping, called addiction. And drinking alcohol can cause other health conditions or make them worse.

Drinking too much alcohol increases the risk of:

• Accidents, violence and suicide.
• Some types of cancer.
• Heart failure.
• Irregular heartbeats such as atrial fibrillation, which can lead to stroke.
• High blood pressure.
• Liver and pancreas diseases.
• Stroke.
• Weight gain and obesity.

Do not drink alcohol at all if you:

• Are pregnant, think you might be pregnant or are trying to become pregnant.
• Have a personal or strong family history of alcohol use disorder.
• Have liver disease.
• Have pancreas disease linked to alcohol use.
• Have heart failure or a weak heart.
• Take medicines that don't mix well with alcohol.
• Are breastfeeding, especially within two hours of drinking alcohol.

If you have questions about the benefits and risks of alcohol, talk with your healthcare professional.

If you choose to drink alcohol, limit how often you drink and keep the amount small. That often means less than two drinks a day on any specific day.

Keep in mind that all types of heavy drinking are linked to worse heart health. That includes binge drinking, which means having four or more drinks for women, or five or more drinks for men, within about two hours.