Summary:
This article reviews the link between alcoholism and risk of heart attacks and other cardiovascular issues, with options for alcohol treatment.
Alcoholism can cause many side effects, whether that’s the small, moderate side effects after a single night of drinking, like a hangover, or more severe, long-term side effects that come from regular alcohol consumption.
Can Alcoholism Cause Heart Attacks?
Research indicates that chronic, heavy alcohol consumption is a significant risk factor for heart conditions, including heart attacks. This means that regular and heavy alcohol consumption stresses the cardiovascular system, directly causing damage to the heart muscle and indirectly causing damage to blood pressure.
As individuals continue to drink, these lifestyle factors lead to a dose-dependent risk, meaning that the more an individual drinks, the more likely they are to experience heart damage or a heart attack.
The Risk of Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy
Alcoholic cardiomyopathy is one of the more serious risk factors associated with heavy alcohol use. Those who consume alcohol regularly, in large doses, and never seek treatment are more likely to damage their heart muscle until such time as the heart muscle cannot pump blood effectively.
This is referred to as alcoholic cardiomyopathy.
This damage can be reversed with proper medical interventions and abstinence, but in order to do so, clients have to seek professional alcohol treatment.
Without the right treatment, alcoholic cardiomyopathy can also result in elevated blood pressure, which increases the risk of coronary heart disease and multiple heart attacks. The more an individual drinks heavily with a damaged heart muscle, the higher their risk of blood clots and stroke. This is especially true of circumstances where an individual binge drinks, around the holidays most frequently, or during times of high stress or challenging life events.
At our facility, we aim to not only provide education on the link between heart attacks and alcoholism but also offer treatment plans that are accessible for all clients based on needs, ranging from residential programs that provide full-time treatment to outpatient programs that provide part-time treatment.
What to Expect from Our Alcohol Treatment
At Sequoia Detox Centers, we offer a full range of care for alcohol treatment, enabling many clients to start with safe, supportive medical detox and then go through the remaining residential and outpatient programs in a step-down process.
This often starts with detox utilizing FDA-approved medications for those struggling with alcoholism. These medications help ease the discomfort of some of the more severe withdrawal symptoms and also provide a resource during the remainder of treatment to ease cravings.
Alongside detox, clients participate in ongoing individual and group therapy sessions, consisting of different modalities based on needs, and different frequencies based on the level of care being received.
During treatment, clients can expect to learn information on the relationship between alcoholism and families, what their personal triggers are, and how to apply coping mechanisms as a healthier alternative to drinking.
Our goal is to ensure that clients not only understand the risks and warning signs of things like alcohol related heart damage or heart attacks, but also find personal causes of addiction or alcoholism, and learn to replace alcohol consumption with healthier coping mechanisms.
Our teams can help you manage your risks with alcohol treatment today. Call us at 1-866-824-0709 to get started.
FAQ
Can Heavy Drinking Cause a Heart Attack?
A single drink does not directly cause heart attacks, but alcoholism can cause heart attacks by increasing the levels of triglyceride in the blood and building up fatty tissue in the arteries of the heart. These buildups of fat in the blood and arterial walls increase the risk of heart attacks and are one of the more dangerous side effects of regular, heavy drinking.
Can Alcoholism Increase Heart Attack Risks?
Yes, alcoholism does increase the risk of heart attacks. Some clinical data indicate that alcohol consumption increases the risk of heart attacks by around 40%.
Does Binge Drinking Trigger Heart Attacks?
Binge drinking does not directly cause a heart attack, but it can cause irregular heart rhythms and blood pressure spikes, which can trigger a heart attack. Research indicates that for 24 hours after consuming six or more drinks in a single event, there is an increased risk of heart disease. This means that individuals who binge drink during holidays or other celebrations are at a higher risk of irregular heartbeats, blood clots, arterial fibrillation, heart attack, and stroke.
Does Alcoholism Damage the Heart Muscle?
Yes, long-term heavy drinking can damage the heart muscle. This is called alcoholic cardiomyopathy, and it’s a condition that causes the heart muscle to weaken, enlarge, and stretch, all of which damages its ability to effectively and regularly pump blood. The more damage the heart muscle becomes, the higher the risk of a heart attack or heart failure.
Does Alcoholism Change My Blood Pressure?
Yes, regular drinking will change blood pressure, which is called hypertension or high blood pressure. Excessive drinking also raises the bad cholesterol and triglycerides in the body and the blood, leading to a higher risk of obesity and coronary artery disease as well as heart attacks.
Can I Heal My Heart After Alcoholism?
Yes, the heart can be repaired if alcohol consumption is stopped. If you or someone you love is struggling with alcoholism, you can reduce your risk of heart attacks by stopping consumption, especially the risk of early-stage cardiomyopathy. With proper medical care and abstinence, early-stage cardiomyopathy and other heart damage from alcohol can be partially or completely reversed.
What Are Common Early Warning Signs of Heart Problems From Drinking?
Early heart damage from alcoholism will appear very subtly at first and can include things like difficulty breathing when at rest or during physical activity, as well as persistent fatigue, dizziness, chest pain, and rapid heart rate even when an individual is at rest. If these symptoms become severe, such as heart palpitations, dizziness, sudden chest pain, or severe shortness of breath, it’s important to go to an emergency room right away.
How Do I Know If I Have Alcoholic Heart Problems?
Alcoholic cardiomyopathy can be diagnosed after a series of medical history questions, physical exam, chest x-rays, cardiac MRIs, and blood work. This can be done by a doctor, after which you can participate in different lifestyle changes and treatment options to help get sober and remain abstinent, and also support the heart in recovering from any damage.
