Weekend drinking may appear harmless when alcohol consumption is limited to a couple of days, but consuming four to five drinks in one sitting can place significant stress on the body. Dr Ajit Menon, director of cardiology at Sir HN Reliance Foundation Hospital in Mumbai, has warned that binge drinking can affect both cardiovascular and liver health. He advised people who choose to drink to avoid concentrating their alcohol intake into one or two sessions.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), alcohol contains ethanol, a psychoactive and toxic substance that can cause dependence. The WHO reported that alcohol consumption was associated with approximately 2.6 million deaths worldwide in 2019, including deaths linked to noncommunicable diseases, injuries and communicable diseases. While health risks can occur even at lower levels of consumption, heavy episodic and continuous drinking account for a large share of alcohol-related harm.
Dr Menon explained that consuming four to five drinks in a short period can cause a sharp rise in blood alcohol levels, increasing oxidative stress, inflammation, liver toxicity and cardiovascular strain. Such episodes can also affect blood pressure and the heart's rhythm. Heavy drinking has been associated with conditions including atrial fibrillation, increased blood pressure, heart attacks, stroke and heart failure, particularly when combined with other risk factors.
Also Read: Are These 5 Everyday Habits Quietly Damaging Your Heart?
Repeated binge drinking can also have longer-term effects on the heart and liver. Excessive alcohol consumption may contribute to weakening of the heart muscle, potentially leading to cardiomyopathy, in which the heart's ability to pump blood becomes impaired. The liver can also be affected, with prolonged excessive drinking contributing to fatty liver disease and, in severe cases, cirrhosis.
Dr Menon recommended five practical measures for people who choose to consume alcohol: avoid saving drinks for a heavy weekend session, eat before and while drinking, alternate alcoholic beverages with water, avoid mixing alcohol with energy drinks and plan alcohol-free weekends periodically. These measures are intended to reduce rapid alcohol intake and avoid concentrated drinking sessions, although they do not eliminate the health risks associated with alcohol.
The cardiologist advised people to make deliberate choices rather than treating weekends as an opportunity to consume a week's worth of alcohol in one or two sittings. He recommended drinking slowly and staying within recommended limits for those who choose to drink. The expert, who has more than 30 years of experience and has performed over 10,000 procedures, specialises in areas including stents, TAVR and complex cardiac treatments.
Also Read: Rahul Gandhi Shares Fitness Lessons For Gen Z From His Routine At 56