Middle aged drinkers who down just one large glass of wine a day increase their risk of stroke by a third, warns a new study.
The mass study, which tracked more than 11,000 twins over 43 years, found that otherwise healthy people who drank at such levels had a higher risk of stroke than others with conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure.
The results showed drinkers in their fifties and sixties who had at least two alcoholic drinks a day - the equivalent of one large glass of wine, or pint of strong lager - had a 34 per cent greater risk of stroke than those who consumed just under half the amount.
Pavla Kadlecová, of St. Anne's University Hospital in the Czech Republic, said: "We now have a clearer picture about these risk factors, how they change with age and how the influence of drinking alcohol shifts as we get older.
"For mid-aged adults, avoiding more than two drinks a day could be a way to prevent stroke in later productive age."
Among identical twin pairs, siblings who had a stroke drank more than their siblings who hadn't had a stroke, suggesting that mid-life drinking raises stroke risks regardless of genetics and lifestyle.
Dr Shamim Quadir, Research Communications Manager at the Stroke Association, said: “Alcohol is one of the world’s leading causes of ill-health, and regularly drinking large amounts can significantly increase your risk of a stroke.
“These important findings suggest that heavy drinkers in their 50s and 60s could be putting themselves at increased risk of stroke. The results also indicate that heavy drinking during middle-age is a higher risk factor for stroke than high blood pressure and diabetes.
“Enjoying alcohol in moderation, taking regular exercise and eating a balanced diet are simple ways to reduce your stroke risk.”
Last week a separate study suggested that a small glass of wine a day could reduce the risk of heart failure by 20 per cent.
Experts said both studies suggest a small quantities of alcohol could have a protective effect on the heart, but that larger amounts were risky.
(via Telegraph)
