Experts say: the higher the dose of alcohol, the higher the risk of stroke. This applies to both regular consumption of strong drinks and a one-time, but significant amount of alcohol.
Doctors say that alcohol increases the risk of stroke both directly and indirectly. Its use increases blood pressure, which, in turn, is the cause of at least half of the strokes. Alcohol also leads to endothelial dysfunction* – it destroys the ability of blood vessels to dilate with an increase in blood volume and lays the foundation for further chronic hypertension.
Alcohol consumption, doctors warn, can cause atrial fibrillation, which increases the risk of ischemic stroke five times. In addition, it distorts the effect of drugs to prevent thrombosis (anticoagulants) and drugs for atrial fibrillation. And this, alas, can also end in a stroke. Experts explain:
“Alcohol damages liver cells, and, as a result, the liver may not produce enough clotting factors. And this is a significant risk of hemorrhages in the brain in the presence of already “damaged” vessels.”
Drinking alcohol often accompanies an unhealthy pattern of behavior: smoking, a sedentary lifestyle, an unbalanced diet, and non-compliance with medications. Doctors strongly recommend:
“All of this contributes to an increased risk of stroke. There is no safe dose of alcohol. If you want to stay healthy, give up alcohol completely.”
*Endothelial dysfunction is an imbalance between biologically active substances produced by cells lining the inner surface of blood vessels.
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