Can people with heart disease drink alcohol?

Written by Zhang Yue Mei

Cardiology

Updated on September 25, 2024

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Patients with heart disease should not drink alcohol, especially those with severe heart conditions, including heart failure and arrhythmias. Drinking alcohol can excite the sympathetic nervous system, increase heart rate, enhance myocardial oxygen consumption, increase cardiac burden, and worsen arrhythmias and heart failure. Additionally, patients with organic heart disease who regularly require medication should avoid alcohol. Alcohol can chemically interact with certain medications or reduce their effectiveness, potentially harming the body.

Other Voices

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Written by Xiao Chang Jiang

Cardiology

1min 24sec

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Early symptoms of heart disease

How is heart disease diagnosed? What are its early symptoms? Actually, the concept of heart disease is very broad as it includes many diseases related to the heart. Generally, it refers to problems with the structure or function of the heart, or its inability to perform its pumping function. Its early symptoms can include chest tightness, chest pain, or a crushing feeling after activity, and some may even radiate to the back or the inside of the arms, even involving the shoulders, presenting symptoms like increased heart rate, palpitations, tinnitus, and breathing difficulties. All these are related to heart disease. But how can we determine what kind of heart disease it is? We believe that the first step is to visit a hospital for tests such as electrocardiograms (ECG), ambulatory ECGs, exercise stress tests, and other imaging tests including coronary CT and even coronary angiography. Of course, some biochemical tests are also necessary, such as myocardial enzymes, troponins, myoglobins, brain natriuretic peptides, immunological and biological tests, which all help to determine the nature of the heart disease. In summary, we must pay special attention to heart disease, and once these symptoms appear, we should seek medical attention promptly and early.

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Written by Zhang Yue Mei

Cardiology

44sec

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How to prevent heart disease

In clinical settings, heart diseases include congenital heart disease, coronary heart disease, rheumatic heart disease, pneumonic heart disease, cardiomyopathy, etc. Some diseases are preventable, such as the most common coronary heart disease. The occurrence of coronary heart disease is due to long-term lipid metabolism disorders and increased blood lipids, which cause arteriosclerosis and subsequent coronary atherosclerosis, leading to insufficient myocardial blood supply and myocardial damage. Preventing and treating hyperlipidemia and reducing arteriosclerosis can decrease the incidence of coronary heart disease.

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Written by Li Tao

Pulmonology

52sec

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How is cor pulmonale treated?

Cor pulmonale refers to the disease characterized by increased pulmonary vascular resistance due to pathological changes in the bronchi, lung tissue, thorax, or pulmonary vessels, leading to pulmonary arterial pressure and subsequently causing changes in the structure and function of the right ventricle. When cor pulmonale occurs, treatment is generally divided into the acute exacerbation phase where active control of infections, clearing of the airways, improvement of respiratory function, correction of hypoxia and carbon dioxide retention, control of respiratory failure and acute heart failure, and management of complications are emphasized. During the chronic remission phase, the goal is to enhance the patient's immune function, eliminate triggering factors, reduce or avoid the occurrence of acute exacerbations, and partially or fully restore cardiopulmonary function.

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Written by Zhang Yue Mei

Cardiology

42sec

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Is premature beat a type of heart disease?

Premature heartbeats belong to heart disease, and any disease that affects heart function and conduction is called heart disease. However, heart disease can be divided into organic heart disease and functional heart disease. Premature beats can also be due to different causes, categorized as physiological and pathological premature beats. Physiological premature beats are common in the normal population and are caused by disturbances in the nerves regulating the heart due to various reasons. Pathological premature beats are caused by organic heart disease, and it is necessary to treat the primary disease while correcting these premature beats.

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Written by Zhang Yue Mei

Cardiology

34sec

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Is rheumatic heart disease serious?

Rheumatic heart disease is a type of organic heart disease caused by an abnormal immune response, leading to pathological changes in the heart valves, which pose significant risks to the body. Due to valve insufficiency or stenosis, rheumatic heart disease causes changes in hemodynamics, leading to heart failure and pulmonary edema. These are severe conditions for patients and require timely treatment and correction. If effective dietary therapy is not administered, especially for pulmonary edema, it can be life-threatening.