Addiction

Binge Drinking Among Young Adults Harms the Heart

Binge drinking increases systolic blood pressure and total cholesterol levels in young adults, according to new research.1

Young adults are highly susceptible to binge drinking. And although the cardiovascular effects of which are known in the older adult population, the effects of binging are not well known in the younger population.

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Using data from the 2011-2012 and 2013-2014 NHANES (US National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey), the researchers examined the responses of 4710 men and women aged 18 to 45 years who did not binge drink and those who did. Binge drinkers were categorized into 2 subgroups: binge drank 1 to 12 times in the past year (low binging) or binge drank more than 12 times in the past year (high binging).

Results of the analysis showed that binge drinking increased both systolic blood pressure and total cholesterol in young men, and young men in the high-binging category had the highest values:

  • For systolic blood pressure, high-binging men had a median 121.8 mm Hg value, low-binging men had 119.0 mm Hg, and non-binging men had 117.5 mm Hg.
  • For total cholesterol, high-binging men had a median value of 215.5 mg/dL, low-binging men had 217.9 mg/dL, and non-binging men had 207.8 mg/dL.

Binge drinking did not affect these values among women; however, women who binge drank had higher levels of glucose than non-binging women.

These results persisted after adjusting for diet and physical activity.

“Implementing lifestyle interventions to reduce blood pressure in early adulthood may be an important strategy to prevent cardiovascular disease later in life,” said Mariann Piano, PhD, RN, study lead author and Nancy and Hilliard Travis Chair in Nursing and Senior Associate Dean for Research at Vanderbilt University School of Nursing.

“Young adults should be screened and counseled about alcohol misuse, including binge drinking, and advised on how binge drinking may affect their cardiovascular health.”2

—Amanda Balbi

References:

  1. Piano MR, Burke L, Kang M, Phillips SA. Effects of repeated binge drinking on blood pressure levels and other cardiovascular health metrics in young adults: national health and nutrition examination survey, 2011‐2014 [published online June 27, 2018]. J Am Heart Assoc. https://doi.org/10.1161/JAHA.118.008733.
  2. Young binge drinkers may have higher heart risks [press release]. Dallas, TX: American Heart Association; June 27, 2018. https://newsroom.heart.org/news/young-binge-drinkers-may-have-higher-heart-risks?preview=7e1c. Accessed June 27, 2018.

 

 

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