HHS HealthBeat (May 01, 2008)

Cheers!

From the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, I’m Ira Dreyfuss with HHS HealthBeat.

Middle-aged adults may be raising glasses – in moderation, of course – to toast the results of this study.

The study indicates people who begin drinking moderate amounts of alcohol in middle age can lower their risk for a heart attack.

The study examined data on almost 7,700 participants who were non-drinkers at the start.

Wine was the most beneficial form of alcohol. People who drank only wine cut their risk of cardiovascular disease by 68 percent.

However, researcher Dana King of the Medical University of South Carolina does not advise people to just start drinking.

“I recommend that people in middle age consult their personal physician about whether starting moderate alcohol consumption would be a reasonable option to add to their lifestyle.” (10 seconds)

The study in the American Journal of Medicine was supported by the National Institutes of Health.

Learn more at hhs.gov.

HHS HealthBeat is a production of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.  I’m Ira Dreyfuss.

Last revised: April, 30 2008