Estimated read time: Less than a minute
This archived news story is available only for your personal, non-commercial use. Information in the story may be outdated or superseded by additional information. Reading or replaying the story in its archived form does not constitute a republication of the story.
WHITE RIVER JUNCTION, Vt., Sep 15, 2003 (United Press International via COMTEX) -- Some female alcoholics experience more severe cardiovascular effects from heavy alcohol drinking than those observed in male alcoholics.
The study, published in Alcoholism: Clinical & Experimental Research, found that these effects are noted earlier and at lower consumption levels than those noted in men.
"This work adds to the growing body of literature that confirms what many researchers in the field have suspected," said study author Nancy C. Bernard, a research psychologist at the National Center for PTSD in White River Junction, Vermont.
"The use of drugs, such as alcohol and nicotine, has a greater adverse impact on women than on men.
"Additionally, I think that this work adds to growing evidence that there are subtle differences in the cardiovascular systems of women in general compared to those of men."
According to Bernard, one or two drinks a day may be beneficial for the cardiovascular system.
"While that may be true, we don't know if these social-drinking women may be prone to developing chronic heavy drinking down the road," she said.
Copyright 2003 by United Press International.
