Aortic Valve Sclerosis Reduced by Drinking Alcohol

The risk of aortic valve sclerosis (AVS) can be modified. This is an important fact. Sclerosis (thickening) is a common health problem. It’s especially so in developed countries. It increases the risk of death from cardiovascular causes by about 50%.

The risk increases with these factors.

    • Being older.
    • Smoking tobacco.
    • Being male.
    • High blood pressure.
    • High lipoprotein (Lp) (a) level.
    • Diabetes mellitus.
    • Having had rheumatic fever.
    • High low-density lipoprotein (LDL) level.

Can drinking reduce the risk of AVS? Researchers looked at average daily drinking and risk of AVS. They gathered data from 2,022 persons aged 45 to 81. The average quantity and frequency of drinking over the previous 30 days was calculated. The incidence of AVS was also measured.

risk of aortic valve sclerosis
To good health!

The prevalence of AVS  was  almost one-third (32.3%). Light to moderate drinking was linked with a lower risk of aortic valve sclerosis. Heavy drinking increased that risk. Average daily alcohol had a J-shaped link with risk of AVS.

That is, moderate drinking reduced risk below that of abstaining. Heavy drinking raised it to that of not drinking. Very heavy drinking raised it above that of abstaining.

Aortic Valve Sclerosis

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