Do Heart Patients Have To Give Up Alcohol?

Chronic and binge drinking are associated with atrial fibrillation and its increased recurrence. Even moderate drinking can trigger some symptoms of atrial fibrillation, such as shortness of breath and palpitations. The risk of consuming alcohol outweighs the benefits and can be dangerous in those with inherited heart rhythm conditions. Hence, it is advisable not to start drinking if you have not started.

However, you don’t have to give up on alcohol altogether when you have a heart condition. Limit your intake. In the long run, alcoholic drinks, being high in calories, can contribute to obesity and high triglyceride levels, thus raising the risk of heart attack and stroke. Hence, women should keep to no more than one standard drink a day, and men should keep to two standard drinks a day. One standard drink is equivalent to ⅔ can of beer (220ml) or one glass of wine (100ml) or one nip (30ml) of spirits.

Article is contributed by Ms Natalie Yeo (Dietitian of the Singapore Heart Foundation) and Dr Mak Koon Hou (Board Member of the Singapore Heart Foundation, cardiologist in private practice).