Nerdy Science Blog

Drinking may not be as bad as many people say it is.  According to a Japanese examination, light to moderate drinking with high socialization can actually help to lower the risk of ischemic stroke and coronary heart disease.

The examination studied the effect of social activity on drinking and risk of cardiovascular disease.  The study involved 19,356 men aged 40- to 69-year-old who enrolled in Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study.  The alcohol consumption was separated into seven categories, which are never, past, occasional, 1-149, 150-299, 300-449, > 450 grams/week.  Study showed that people with more social activity and less-to-moderate drinking behaviour had reduced risk of total stroke, ischemic stroke and total cardiovascular disease.  Takeshi Tanigawa, a professor in the department of public health at Ehime University Graduate School of Medicine, suggested that low social support leads to mental stress, and mental stress activates neuro-endocrine components that will eventually increase the risk of cardiovascular disease.

The study will be published in June issue of Alcoholism: Clinical and Experimental Research.  So when you go out for a drink with people, try to drink with those people who don’t stress you.  The less you drink the better health you will have.

(Image Credit: CartoonStock)

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