Excessive alcohol consumption leads to heart problems

New research shows drinking may slightly increase the risk of a heart irregularity. You've heard alcohol can be good for your health.

Researchers analyzed data from nearly 48,000 Danish patients and found alcohol consumption slightly increased men's risk of developing atrial fibrillation, a fluttering in the heart that leads to clotting in some people.

Men in the study drank an average of one ounce of alcohol per day, informs WIS.

According to Health Talk, researchers from Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark, performed a follow-up study that involved 47,949 men and women from 1993 to 1997. The researchers found that 556 men developed atrial fibrillation. Among the women, 182 developed atrial fibrillation. On average, the male participants consumed two to three drinks per day (28.2 grams of alcohol). Female participants consumed less, about one drink per day (13.9 grams of alcohol).

"Consumption of alcohol was associated with an increased risk of atrial fibrillation or flutter in men," concluded the researchers. Atrial fibrillation is the most common form of irregular &to=http://english.pravda.ru/society/2003/03/07/44138.html' target=_blank>heartbeat. The condition causes the heart to pump blood less efficiently, allowing blood to pool within its chambers and increasing the risk of heart attack, stroke, and heart failure.