The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The datasets generated for this study are available on request to the corresponding author. Because of space limitations, not all of the excellent scientific work on alcohol and the cardiovascular system could be assessed in this review. Alcohol might also slow down the rate at which your body breaks down and removes the blood-thinning drug.
However, researchers have pinpointed certain behaviors that make it more likely you’ll develop this condition. Alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy is a relatively uncommon condition, occurring in about 1% to 2% of people who consume more than the recommended amounts of alcohol. Other medications, food and alcohol can change the way blood thinners work, and a blood thinner can change the way other medications work. For example, foods that are high in vitamin K can work against warfarin, but not other blood thinners. When it comes to protecting you from a possible devastating blood clot, your provider will let you know if a blood thinner is right for you and will talk with you about which kind is your best option. They’ll also help you learn how to minimize the risks of taking a blood thinner so you can reap the rewards without worry.
This condition tends to be worse the more you drink and/or the longer you were a heavy drinker. Other health problems you have can also affect your case, especially if those problems have any connection with alcohol use. The only way to completely prevent alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy is not to drink alcohol at all. Though they aren’t causes of alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy, other lifestyle choices can make it worse. These include using recreational drugs (especially those that affect your heart, such as cocaine) and tobacco (which has major negative effects on your heart, lungs and circulatory system). While alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy comes from long-term alcohol abuse, there’s no universal limit or number that means you’ll develop it.
But the health risks from drinking can come from moderate consumption as well. Occasional, moderate alcohol use should be safe for most people who are taking blood thinners. For example, people with liver problems may need to limit their alcohol use more strictly. Some people may initially follow these recommendations is alcohol a blood thinner but become tempted to increase their alcohol intake over time. Researchers have found that low-to-moderate drinking could reduce certain processes that lead to heart disease and inflammation. However, more research is necessary to determine whether alcohol use is directly responsible for these possible heart benefits.
Your doctor may have recommended certain ones annually, even if you’re at low risk for heart disease. But “the days of regular asymptomatic testing in your doctor’s office are long gone,” says Michael Nanna, an interventional cardiologist at the Yale School of Medicine. This may involve wearing stockings that improve your blood flow or taking medicine to reduce the risk of clots (anticoagulants). This could be a blood clot in the lungs (pulmonary embolism), which needs to be treated immediately. The only way to cure alcohol-induced cardiomyopathy is with a heart transplant.
Blood clots: Drinking wine could make blood ‘less sticky’ – how much you should have.
Posted: Wed, 28 Sep 2022 07:00:00 GMT [source]