Staying Healthy
Moderate drinking may harm older people's hearts
A drink or two a day has long been touted as beneficial for the heart. But new research suggests that for older people, even moderate drinking may cause worrisome changes in the heart's structure and function. Moderate drinking is defined as a drink per day for women and two drinks a day for men.
The study included nearly 4,500 adults with an average age of 76 years. They drank varying amounts of alcohol, ranging from none to 14 or more drinks per week. Researchers looked at the size, structure, and function of different parts of their hearts using cardiac imaging techniques.
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