Read in the article:
- The relationship between alcohol and cholesterol
- Atherosclerosis and cholesterol plaques
- Myths about the benefits of alcohol for high cholesterol
- Other ways to lower cholesterol
- The effects of alcohol on the body
The connection between alcohol and atherosclerosis is not always obvious, because many doctors recommend moderate consumption of strong alcohol to lower blood cholesterol levels. This treatment is most often popular among alcohol addicts who are trying to justify their addiction to alcohol. In this article we will look at the relationship between alcohol and cholesterol, dispel myths about the benefits of alcohol and talk about more effective methods of reducing blood cholesterol.
Myth #1: High cholesterol is not hereditary.
In fact : It is transmitted. Familial hypercholesterolemia is a genetic disorder caused by a series of mutations in the low-density lipoprotein receptor gene on chromosome 19. This genetic defect affects the liver's ability to effectively regulate the level of "bad" cholesterol, that is, low-density lipoprotein (LDL). This leads to increased overall cholesterol levels and can provoke a risk of cardiovascular disaster (heart attack, stroke).
Different forms of the disease are inherited. In the case of autosomal recessive inheritance, a child who has received two pathological genes from each parent will become ill, and then hypercholesterolemia will manifest itself in childhood. This condition of the child requires mandatory drug treatment. With an autosomal dominant type of inheritance of the disease, there may be two variants of the manifestation of the disease. When a child receives one pathological gene from a parent, the disease is milder and appears later. In another case, he inherits two pathological genes (the disease occurs in early childhood and is more severe). In addition to these forms, there are forms of primary hypercholesterolemia of other types of inheritance and acquired hypercholesterolemia. They are easier to treat.
To exclude genetic risks, you can conduct an analysis for the genetic risk of atherosclerosis and coronary artery disease, predisposition to dyslipidemia.
Cholesterol winners. New medications have appeared that can save you from heart attacks. Read more
Atherosclerosis and cholesterol plaques
The formation of plaques begins at a young age, but they manifest themselves mainly after 50 years. Cholesterol deposition provokes the development of atherosclerosis. Pathology is expressed in changes in the condition of blood vessels. They become fragile, lose their elasticity, the vascular lumen narrows, and the organs do not receive enough oxygen and nutrients.
Alcohol is not an effective treatment for plaque that can clog blood vessels and capillaries. Alcohol does not dissolve plaques and does not prevent their formation. Only adequate drug treatment can reduce their number, but even this sometimes lasts more than a year.
Myth No. 2. Cholesterol enters the body only through food.
Actually : no, not only. 80% of cholesterol is synthesized in the body. Therefore, giving up foods containing cholesterol will bring nothing but problems. Every day, the body synthesizes approximately 1000 mg of cholesterol, which is necessary for digestion, cell development, and the production of vitamins and hormones. Cholesterol imbalances in the body are primarily caused by internal problems rather than dietary deficiencies. First of all, the determining factors are:
- heredity; - liver and kidney diseases; — infections; - overweight and obesity; - insulin resistance; — diabetes mellitus and prediabetes; - taking medications; - hormonal disorders (including hypothyroidism - decreased functional activity of the thyroid gland); - age; - unhealthy diet.
Regarding the last point, an increase in cholesterol levels is possible with excessive consumption of foods high in saturated fats (butter, fatty meats, eggs, cheese) and trans fats (fried foods, all fast food). But existing disorders in the body always matter: these are the above-mentioned malfunctions and problems in the functioning of the liver and pancreas, and disturbances in the intestinal microbiota.
The effect of alcohol on the heart
Constant expansion and contraction result in premature wear of the arterial membranes.
The risk of aneurysm and rupture increases. Especially when the pressure is high. The body is forced to increase cholesterol production to strengthen the most problematic areas. So the internal clearance becomes even smaller. It causes platelets to clump together and become clogged. Against this background, the following develop:
- Coronary insufficiency.
- Cardiomyopathy.
- Arterial stenosis, ischemic heart disease.
- All conditions are created for post-infarction necrosis of individual areas.
Myth No. 3. Cholesterol has a secondary function in the body.
Actually : no, it's not. Cholesterol is an essential component of fat metabolism and a structural part of hormones, such as estrogen and testosterone, vitamin D, bile acids necessary for the digestion of fats, and it is used to build cell membranes. In the blood, cholesterol is in a free state and bound to proteins. Low-density lipoproteins (LDL) - complexes of cholesterol with less protein ("bad" cholesterol) - cause inflammation in blood vessels! Their level increases in the blood with metabolic disorders leading to atherosclerosis.
High-density lipoproteins (HDL) - high-protein complexes of cholesterol ("good" cholesterol) - have protective properties for blood vessels.
The norm for HDL cholesterol is 1.2 for men, 1.5 for women. A decrease in indicators by 20% several times (3-4) increases the risk of developing atherosclerosis. An increase in indicators is observed against the background of intense physical activity, under the influence of drugs that reduce the overall level of lipids.
The normal LDL level is less than 3.5 mmol/l for healthy people. In risk groups, those with existing heart and vascular diseases, or those who have already had a heart attack or stroke, the norms are much lower and are determined individually. An increase in LDL concentration (above 4.0 mmol/l) is possible while taking non-selective beta blockers, diuretics, and contraceptives. A decrease in LDL can be observed as a result of fasting, lung diseases, anemia, and malignant neoplasms.
Don't be afraid of fat. How to eat to get rid of atherosclerosis? More details
Is alcohol good for stress, fatigue or insomnia?
Alcohol is not a cure for stress or insomnia. On the contrary, if you often use alcohol for such problems, the condition will only worsen.
Stress is a reaction to emotional stress, overload, and too active mental activity. This reaction is necessary to maintain high productivity for a short time. If stress becomes prolonged, fatigue accumulates, emotional state is disrupted, and performance decreases sharply. For both short-term and long-term stress, you should not use alcohol - it will not help improve the condition. During short stressful periods, alcohol will reduce performance and productivity, impair concentration, and will not help cope with accumulated tasks or difficult circumstances. With prolonged stress, even a small dose of alcohol will only increase fatigue, slow down thought processes, weaken attention, and make the emotional state even more unstable.
For insomnia, alcohol should not be used as a sleeping pill. It can speed up falling asleep, but the quality of sleep will deteriorate, it will become shallow, short, intermittent, and snoring will appear. If you drink alcohol before bed regularly, falling asleep will become more difficult, and soon it will be impossible without taking an evening dose of alcohol.
Order alcoholism treatment
We work around the clock, experienced doctors, 100% anonymous.
Myth No. 4. Hypercholesterolemia cannot be treated
In fact : no, it is actually curable. Hypercholesterolemia can be treated, including familial hypercholesterolemia. For this purpose, complex therapy methods are used. First of all, statins and fibrates are prescribed - special lipid-containing drugs that reduce the amount of cholesterol in the blood, inhibit its formation in the liver, and reduce absorption in the intestines.
Modern drugs have appeared - monoclonal antibodies (PCSK9 inhibitors), they are administered several times a month and are used when standard therapy is ineffective.
Non-drug methods include diet and exercise to normalize weight and prevent obesity, giving up bad habits (drinking alcohol, smoking).
Useful substances in alcoholic drinks
Beer contains folic and pantothenic acids, B vitamins, whiskey and cognac contain ellagic acid, cider and champagne contain antioxidants, and wine contains amino acids and a number of vitamins. These features of the composition of alcoholic beverages do not make them useful; they do not compensate for the toxic effects of ethanol. Moreover, under the influence of ethyl alcohol and its breakdown products, the deficiency of antioxidants, B vitamins, a number of trace elements and minerals increases even if these substances are contained in the alcoholic drink. It is impossible to consider alcohol or cocktails based on it as a source of vitamins, antioxidants, microelements, as a means of strengthening the immune system or improving metabolism. There will be no health benefit from regular drinking, and the content of beneficial elements in alcoholic beverages is too low, insufficient for a positive effect on health.
Even in small, moderate doses, alcohol does more harm than good. Doctors at the NarcoDoc clinic do not recommend using it to solve health problems: it will only worsen after such “treatment.”
Contact our specialists for treatment of alcoholism followed by rehabilitation, call: +7
Myth No. 5. You don’t need to do cholesterol tests until you are 40 years old.
In fact : no, you can’t treat yourself like that. It is necessary to control the level of cholesterol, HDL, LDL, and triglycerides from the age of 25. A sedentary lifestyle, unhealthy snacks, addiction to alcohol, which has a damaging effect on the liver, and smoking can lead to increased cholesterol levels. It is important to understand that hypercholesterolemia (level more than 5.2 mmol/l) quadruples the risk of developing atherosclerosis, coronary heart disease, and arterial hypertension.
To find out whether lipid levels are normal, it is enough to take a biochemical blood test - a detailed lipid spectrum:
- Cholesterol;
- Triglycerides;
- HDL cholesterol;
- LDL cholesterol.
Keeping your cholesterol under control and getting your blood tested regularly is an important point in maintaining your health.
Bad and good cholesterol. What you need to know about this important connection Read more
True statements about cholesterol
Elevated cholesterol levels in the blood provoke atherosclerosis
That's how it is here . An increase in cholesterol concentration—hypercholesterolemia—is a reliable factor in the development of atherosclerosis. And this is a direct path to stroke, heart attack and deterioration in quality of life and life prognosis.
Exercising can lower bad cholesterol levels
Yes, that's a fact. If the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases and hypercholesterolemia in the family line is minimal, then playing sports will help reduce “bad” cholesterol levels. For example, it has been proven that after three weeks of exercise in women with type II diabetes, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) levels decreased by 21% and triglyceride levels by 18%.
However, you should not experiment with physical activity if you have been diagnosed with peripheral artery disease, angina pectoris, or high levels of “bad” cholesterol. In this case, it is first recommended to take medications, and then exercise.
There are foods that lower blood cholesterol levels
This is true . With an increased risk of developing hypercholesterolemia, it is reasonable to limit foods containing saturated fats (fatty meats, butter, eggs, cheese) to a physiological minimum. This can actually lead to a reduction in total cholesterol levels in the blood.
Polyunsaturated fatty acids are useful in this case. But you need to talk about everything with your doctor so as not to harm your health.
For example, omega-6 fatty acids have been shown to lower levels of “good” cholesterol (HDL). They are found in oils: flaxseed, grape seed, sesame, peanut, and corn. Many people consider these types of oils to be healthier than sunflower oil. In fact, a healthy alternative is olive oil, which helps lower cholesterol and LDL levels without lowering HDL levels. Olives and fatty sea fish have the same effect.
Safe dose of alcohol
When they talk about the benefits of alcohol, they mean small doses of it - those that do not cause even mild intoxication. This daily dose is the equivalent of 50 ml of ethyl alcohol (20 ml of vodka, about 100 ml of wine or 150-200 ml of beer for men and 30% less for women). This is the “average” volume, which can decrease with health problems, poor health, and old age. When drinking alcohol in this amount, a person will not feel intoxicated and will not cause significant harm to his health.
It is assumed that this amount of alcohol can help a person fall asleep with insomnia, relieve mild pain, and increase appetite. In practice, the “therapeutic” effect is questionable, but the risks of regular alcohol consumption, even in small amounts, have been proven. If you drink alcohol every day, your tolerance to alcohol will gradually increase. The toxic effect can be “cumulative”, due to which the functioning of the liver, kidneys, and cardiovascular system will gradually deteriorate. Regular consumption of alcohol always leads to addiction, and there is simply no safe dose of alcohol.
