Binge drinking, even when young, increases the risk of heart disease according to a recent study done by the University of Illinois at Chicago.
When drinking large quantities of alcohol on a regular basis it causes an immediate change in circulation and as a result increases the risk of cardiovascular disease later in life. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention of binge drinking is consuming five or more standard sized drinks – such as a pint of beer or a medium glass of wine- in a two-hour period for men and four or more standard size drinks in a two-hour period for women.
Surveys have shown that university students aged between 18 and 25 years old have the highest rates of binge drinking, with more than half binge drinking. The American College of Cardiology indicated that a student who binge drinks will do it six times a month over a four-year period.
Professor Shane Phillips said “Regular binge drinking is one of the most serious public health problems confronting college campuses, and [thanks to them] drinking has become more pervasive and destructive.”
It hasn’t been seen yet if the damage from this type of destructive behavior is reversible. While there is no evidence of increased blood pressure or cholesterol, which are risk factors for heart disease though the vascular function can change depending on how much alcohol gets consumed. With these findings it means that young adults have a better understanding of the serious medical complications that can arise and the opportunity to think twice before drinking too much.