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UTRECHT, Netherlands, Oct 14, 2004 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Dutch researchers say they have found binge drinking increases mortality, heightening the risk of cardiovascular disease.
In the October issue of Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, researchers at the Thrombosis and Haemostasis Laboratory of the University Medical Center in Utrecht describe their study comparing binge drinkers to those who consume a moderate amount of alcohol.
"In large studies containing thousands of healthy people, it was observed that people who drank alcohol on a regular basis appeared to have less cardiovascular disease," researcher Dylan W. de Lange said.
However when people drank excessively -- beyond two to five glasses daily -- mortality increased.
The researchers found binge drinkers had increased platelet adhesion and aggregation -- the gathering of platlets or sticky substances that can form clogs in arteries. While platelets also are part of body's wound repair system -- excess formation of clogs can lead to cadiac events.
Copyright 2004 by United Press International.
