Long before now, we have been advised by experts that taking a glass of wine a day can be good for our health. This widespread notion which the majority have accepted over the years as a good and healthy practice has now been challenged by the World Heart Federation (WHF).
From the production, wine contains antioxidants, which of course have health benefits. The World Heart Federation, a non-governmental organisation (NGO) working with the World Health Organisation (WHO), has suggested that the notion about wine being cardioprotective may be observational with several factors not properly considered.
For example, one can speculate that moderate drinkers may appear to be healthier than non-drinkers with the latter having an alcohol problem leading to a permanent stop. Monika Arora, of the WHF, said: ‘The portrayal of alcohol as necessary for a vibrant social life has diverted attention from the harms of alcohol use, as have the frequent claims that moderate drinking, such as a glass of red wine a day, can offer protection against cardiovascular disease.’
With this latest discovery, people who enjoy an occasional sip of wine may have to push back towards a state of abstinence as the warning clearly states that with each glass of wine, the risk of having some type of cardiovascular disease increases. The WHF, in its briefing, said; ‘The evidence is clear: any level of alcohol consumption can lead to loss of healthy life. ‘Studies have shown that even small amounts of alcohol can increase a person’s risk of cardiovascular disease, including coronary disease, stroke, heart failure, hypertensive heart disease, cardiomyopathy (heart muscle disease), atrial fibrillation (irregular heartbeat), and aneurysm. ‘Studies that claim otherwise are based on purely observational research, which fails to account for other factors, such as pre-existing conditions and a history of alcoholism in those considered to be ‘abstinent’. ‘To date, no reliable correlation has been found between moderate alcohol consumption and a lower risk of heart disease.’
It has also been observed that such claims are at best misinformed and at worst an attempt by some industries manufacturing alcohol to mislead the public about the danger of their products. According to the words of Matt Lambert, of the Portman Group drinks industry trade body, ‘It is important not to exaggerate the risk of moderate drinking and unduly alarm responsible consumers who enjoy alcohol sensibly.’
It has also been observed earlier this week that a lot of Britons have silently put themselves in harm’s way through excessive drinking. Occasions where people drink freely at home without keeping track of how many bottles they have consumed. Most of them go with the idea of “Should we open another bottle? Yeah, let’s have another bottle”.
As it stands, there is no safe level of drinking according to the World Heart Federation, as alcohol-related deaths account for about 12.5% of deaths of men between the age of 15 to 49 globally. Many people consider themselves to indulge only moderately in alcohol and the NHS says people who have less than 14 units a week are ‘low-risk’ drinkers.
The World Heart Federation has made it clear that alcohol is a psychoactive and toxic substance that damage the human body, especially the heart. Health conditions that are directly linked to drinking include cardiovascular disease, cancer, and digestive diseases. It can also lead to the risk of people injuring themselves when highly intoxicated. The organisation has suggested that a ban on alcohol adverts and restrictions on its availability and consumption are part of the interventions which can help checkmate the rate of drinking by the people.