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Does Heavy Drinking Cause The Enlargement Of The Heart?
Question: male73 years old. bp 120/70. Had an echo 3 months ago and ventricles and atria were normal in size and function. ef 55-60. For 11 years had 2 beers daily with lunch. I had a serious personal problem and drank heavily for 3 months. Most days 8 to 9 beers. The XXXXXXX heart book says it takes 5 to 10 years of daily drinking ;eg 5 beers or 2/3 of vodka or gin.I know that heavy drinking can cause a-fib, etc. I had a chest zray on May8 and heart was normal in size. I had a cat scan on June1 and heart was normal in size. I had bronchitis. My question is simple. Could 3 months heavy drinking enlarge the heart? If possible,try to be specific no, yes not maybe. Thank you. I await your respomnse.
Brief Answer:
It needs years of heavy drinking for the alcohol to enlarge heart...
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you for asking!
I read your query and understood your concerns.
A period of three months of heavy drinking couldn't cause heart enlargement. Usually without other factors it requires long periods (10-20 years) of excessive drinking to cause the heart enlargement.
It needs years of heavy drinking for the alcohol to damage liver metabolism and to accumulate large toxic levels in the blood to damage the heart (heart enlargement).
Both the x ray and CAT scan show that your heart is normal and you shouldn't worry about that. However you should continue with healthy lifestyle (especially quit drinking).
Hope this was of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu
It needs years of heavy drinking for the alcohol to enlarge heart...
Detailed Answer:
Hi and thank you for asking!
I read your query and understood your concerns.
A period of three months of heavy drinking couldn't cause heart enlargement. Usually without other factors it requires long periods (10-20 years) of excessive drinking to cause the heart enlargement.
It needs years of heavy drinking for the alcohol to damage liver metabolism and to accumulate large toxic levels in the blood to damage the heart (heart enlargement).
Both the x ray and CAT scan show that your heart is normal and you shouldn't worry about that. However you should continue with healthy lifestyle (especially quit drinking).
Hope this was of help!
Wish you health!
Dr. Shehu
Note: For further queries related to coronary artery disease and prevention, click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Chakravarthy Mazumdar
Answered by
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