Alcohol and Cardiovascular Disease
How Alcohol can damage the cardiovascular system The heart and blood vessels form part of the cardiovascular system. Blood is pumped around the body by the heart, via these blood vessels through arteries, capillaries, and veins. The blood delivers nutrients and other materials to all parts of the body, including alcohol, which is absorbed directly into the bloodstream mainly via the stomach and small intestine. The Cardiovascular system is affected by alcohol. At the time of drinking, alcohol can cause a temporary increase in heart rate and blood pressure. In the long term, drinking above the guideline can lead to an on-going increase in heart rate, high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat. All of which increase the risk of alcohol cause heart attack and stroke. What Cardiovascular disease can alcohol cause? Heart Attack Your heart muscle needs oxygen so it can keep pumping. A heart attack is when an artery supplying oxygen to the heart muscle is reduced or cut off completely, pre