Alcohol and the Cardiovascular System

used—and abused—since the dawn of history. Although most people who choose to drink can limit their intake to a level that produces no harm to their health or to society, about 34 percent of the population drinks approximately 62 percent of all alcoholic beverages consumed. This chronic heavy drinking1 is a significant factor in the development of alcohol dependence, or alcoholism,2 and is associated with serious adverse health consequences, including negative effects on the cardiovascular system, such as heart muscle disorders (i.e., cardiomyopathy), heartbeat rhythm irregularities (i.e., arrhythmias), high blood pressure (i.e., hypertension), and strokes. In contrast, moderate drinking3 has been known since ancient times to