What binge-drinking can do to your heart’s health

A new study conducted in Russia shows that binge-drinking and heavy alcohol use can damage the structure and function of the heart. A lead researcher on the study shares that, even if symptoms don’t appear straight away, heavy drinking can significantly increase a person’s risk of heart problems, like heart disease and stroke, in the future.

One of the ways drinking too much alcohol can damage the heart is by increasing blood pressure, which strains the heart muscle and can lead to damage if left untreated over time. For the purposes of the study, heavy drinking was defined as behaviors like having more than six drinks on one occasion, needing a drink first thing in the morning, or having been treated for alcohol abuse in the past.

Learn more about the impacts of heavy drinking at Reuters.