DELBERTM

The relationship between alcohol consumption and the risk of stroke is complicated: moderate drinking reduces the risk of some types of stroke, whilst heavy drinking increases the risk of all types. The Stroke Association Factsheet: Alcohol and Stroke explains:

Nearly nine out of 10 strokes are ischaemic – caused by blood clots blocking arteries. As with heart attacks, small amounts of alcohol seem to help protect against this type of stroke.

The remaining percentage of strokes are haemorrhagic – bleeding caused by burst blood vessels in or around the brain. Alcohol does not protect against haemorrhagic strokes and even relatively small amounts of alcohol – two or three units per day – can double or treble the risk of having a haemorrhagic stroke.

Recent research has also shown that heavy drinking increases the risk of all types of stroke. A large Scottish study, which followed nearly 6,000 men over a period of 20 years, found that those who drank five or more units per day were twice as likely to die from a stroke compared with those who didn’t drink.

Coldfusion

"Moderate drinking" is something alcoholics find impossible.

ScottFromWI

Moderation in life in general is a pretty good idea I think, but there are limits. Wheat can be good for you in moderation, but not if you have Celiac disease. Nuts can be healthy for you, unless you have a nut allergy. Alcohol in moderation could possibly be beneficial, if you are not an alcoholic.

IOAA2

Hi.
What is defined as moderation drinking?
I don’t think I was ever a moderate drinker whatever it is.

BE WELL

gaffo

I bet moderate excersize is better than moderate drinking!

pulltight

The more I read/research about alcohol the more it seems to have no real benefit worth the risks.