Cardiovascular diseases are the leading cause of death globally, taking 17.9 million lives each year. A lion’s portion of this is contributed by heart attack and stroke. And the biggest culprit behind it? A drug. But it’s still legal, across the world. Dr. Dmitry Yaranov, a leading heart transplant cardiologist based in Memphis, US, has now spoken about a drug that destroys the heart and yet is sold legally worldwide. Dr. Yaranov recalled the time when he treated a patient. The man came with severe fatigue. His legs were swollen, and he was struggling to breathe. The man was in a critical condition. Dr. Yaranov ran some tests, only to discover that his heart was struggling. And the culprit? This drug. What’s it? Alcohol. Alcohol: Heart’s biggest enemy
2.6 million people died due to alcohol consumption in 2019 globally, according to the World Health Organization (WHO). Alcohol consumption increases the risk of 200 diseases, injuries, and even cancer. Studies have confirmed that alcohol consumption leads to heart disease. In 2019 alone, alcohol consumption was linked to approximately 474,000 deaths from cardiovascular diseases.
“I had a patient, let’s call him Mark. He came in with severe fatigue, shortness of breath, and swelling in his legs. After running some tests, we discovered his heart was weakened from years of heavy drinking. He never realized that alcohol had slowly taken a toll on his heart until it was almost too late. Mark’s story is not unique,” Dr. Yaranov said, in a video shared on Instagram. Here’s what alcohol consumption does to the heart:
- The cardiologist noted that 1 in 3 heavy drinkers develops alcoholic cardiomyopathy, where the heart muscle weakens and can lead to heart failure.
- Regular alcohol consumption can significantly raise blood pressure. According to Dr. Yaranov, every drink you consume raises the blood pressure by 2-4 mmHg. This makes your heart work harder.
- 1 in 4 people with Atrial Fibrillation (Afib) have a history of heavy drinking. Alcohol can trigger irregular heart rhythms.
- Alcohol consumption significantly increases your risk of stroke. “Drinking more than 3 drinks a day increases your stroke risk by 50%,” the doctor said.
- Chronic drinking doubles your risk of coronary artery disease, putting you at risk of heart attacks and long-term damage, the doctor said.
Occasional drinking is equally dangerous
Dr. Yaranov emphasized that occasional drinking too poses a significant danger. “Mark didn’t think his drinking was “that bad”, but it was. He was lucky we caught it early, but many aren’t. Reflecting on his journey, it’s clear that alcohol isn’t a harmless indulgence. It slowly builds up damage over time, until one day, it’s not,” the doctor said.
