People who abstain, rarely drink, or drink heavily are at much higher risk of getting asthma. That’s in comparison to those who drink in moderation. Those are the findings of a large study in Denmark. In short, it found that the risk of getting asthma reduced by drinking in moderation.

The Study: Asthma Reduced by Drinking Moderately

Researchers surveyed almost 20,000 asthma-free healthy Danes once. And then again eight years later. They first compared moderate drinkers to abstainers and infrequent drinkers. The abstainers and infrequent drinkers had a 46% greater risk of getting asthma.

They then compared moderate to heavy drinkers. The latter had a 26% greater risk compared to moderate drinkers. In calculating risks, the researchers controlled or adjusted for age, sex, smoking, weight, and education.

Thus, there was a U-shaped curve. Abstainers and infrequent drinkers had a high risk. Moderate drinkers had a low risk. And heavy drinkers had a high risk. A similar U-shaped curve has also been found for the link between drinking and other diseases. They include heart diseases, type 2 diabetes, kidney cancer, Parkinson’s disease, and many other diseases. For more, visit Alcohol and Health.

The Disease

In asthma, airways narrow and produce too much mucus. Breathing can become hard and cause shortness of breath, wheezing, and coughing. It’s a chronic or long-term illness.

Asthma can restrict activities and an asthma attack can cause death. There is no cure for the disease. Nor is it clear why some people get it.

Risk of Asthma Reduced by Drinking Alcohol in Moderation