Menu
Dr. Weil Logo Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
  • Health & Wellness
    Health & Wellness
    Body, Mind & Spirit
    • Addiction
    • Allergy & Asthma
    • Autoimmune Disorders
    • Back Pain
    • Bone & Joint
    • Cancer
    • Colds & Flu
    • Dental & Oral
    • Diabetes
    • Disease & Disorders
    • Ears, Nose, & Throat
    • Feet
    • Gastrointestinal
    • Hair, Skin, & Nails
    • Headache
    • Heart
    • Insects & Parasites
    • Liver & Kidney
    • Mental Health
    • Pregnancy & Fertility
    • Respiratory
    • Sexual Health
    • Sleep Issues
    • Stress & Anxiety
    • Vision
    Balanced Living
    • Exercise & Fitness
    • Gardening
    • Healthy Home
    • Healthy Living
    • Meditation & Inspiration
    • Meet Dr. Weil
    • Pets & Pet Care
    • Technology
    • Wellness Therapies
    Health Centers
    • Aging Gracefully
    • Children
    • Condition Care Guide
    • Men
    • Women
  • Diet & Nutrition
    Diet & Nutrition
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet & Pyramid
    Anti-Inflammatory Diet Pyramid
    Cooking & Cookware
    Healthy Cooking & Cookware
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Diets & Weight Loss
    Food Safety
    Diets & Nutrition - Food Safety
    Nutrition
    healthy nutrition
    Recipes
    healthy recipes
    Featured Articles
    • Bulletins
      Why Eat More Fruit?
    • Diets & Weight Loss
      Intermittent Fasting (IF)
    • Recipes
      Watermelon & Heirloom Tomato Salad
    • Healthy Living
      Fruit, Herb, & Vegetable Infused Waters: Good Or Bad?
    • Bulletins
      Fruit & Vegetables: Increase Your Intake
  • Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Vitamins, Supplements & Herbs
    Herbs
    herbal remedies - herbs
    Supplements & Remedies
    suppliments & remedies
    Vitamins
    ask-dr-weil_vitamins-supplements-herbs_vitamins-topnav
  • Ask Dr. Weil
  • Blogs
    Blogs
    Bulletins
    The Legacy Of Living Yes | Spontaneous Happiness | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Health Tips
    Healthy Drinks To Start Sipping | Andrew Weil, M.D.
    Spontaneous Happiness
    blog_spontaneous-happiness_topnav
  • COVID-19
  • Dr. Weil Origins Skin Care
  • Marketplace
  • Healthy Aging
  • Podcasts
  • Meet Dr. Weil
  • Accessibility
  • Subscribe
Does Alcohol Cut Stroke Risk?
Subscribe
Press "Enter" to search
  1. Home
  2. Health & Wellness
  3. Body, Mind & Spirit
  4. Heart

Does Alcohol Cut Stroke Risk?

I understand that an alcoholic drink or two daily can reduce risk of some types of stroke but not of others. Can you clarify?

Andrew Weil, M.D. | February 23, 2017

alcohol stroke
2 min

A review from Sweden’s Karolinska Institutet and Cambridge University in the UK, published in November 2016, suggests that consuming one to two alcoholic drinks daily appears to protect against the most common type of stroke, but raises the risk of another kind. The researchers analyzed data on more than 20,000 strokes from 25 studies published earlier as well as from Swedish national health sources. They found that one to two daily drinks lowered the risk of ischemic strokes. These occur when the blood supply to part of the brain is cut off due to atherosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) or a blood clot and represent an estimated 87 percent of all strokes. However, the analysis also showed that daily moderate drinking has no effect on the risk of hemorrhagic strokes, which are caused by a ruptured blood vessel in the brain. These are often a consequence of uncontrolled high blood pressure, but can also result from leakage from congenital or acquired malformations of cerebral blood vessels, such as aneurysms.

In a press release that accompanied publication of the investigation, lead author Susanna Larson of the Karolinska Institutet noted that previous research found a link between alcohol consumption and lower levels of fibrinogen – a protein in the body that helps blood to clot. She suggested that while this may explain the association between light to moderate alcohol consumption and lower ischemic stroke risk, the adverse effect of alcohol consumption on blood pressure may increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke, nullifying any potential benefit.

The analysis showed that consuming more alcohol – two or more drinks per day – raises the risks of both types of stroke. The researchers defined light drinking as less than one drink per day; moderate as one to two daily drinks; high as two to four drinks daily, and heavy as more than four drinks per day.

Because this was an observational analysis, the results don’t prove cause and effect. Instead, they show an association between drinking alcohol and the altered risk of stroke.

If you don’t drink, I wouldn’t advise taking up the habit as a way to reduce your risk of stroke. There are better alternatives – controlling your blood pressure, a prudent diet and adequate exercise, for example. Drinking alcohol on top of poor dietary and exercise habits is not going to overcome the effects of those behaviors. Here’s where you can find more of my recommendations for lowering your risk of stroke.

Andrew Weil, M.D.

Source:

Susanna Larsson et al, “Differing association of alcohol consumption with different stroke types: a systemic review and meta-analysis,” BMC Medicine, November 24, 2016, doi: 10.1186/s12916-016-0721-4

Dr. Weil on Healthy Aging

Start Your 14-Day Free Trial

Free Newsletters

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil

Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Follow Dr. Weil’s Food Pyramid

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil's FREE health living advice delivered to you!

By clicking "Subscribe," you agree to the DrWeil.com Terms and Conditions and Privacy Policy. You also agree to receive emails from DrWeil.com, and you may opt out of DrWeil.com subscriptions at any time.

Trending Now

Healthy food in heart and cholesterol diet concept on vintage boards
Heart

A Natural Way to Lower Cholesterol?

blood pressure test
Heart

A Pill to Prevent Heart Disease?

a sweet new way to lower cholesterol
Heart

A Sweet New Way to Lower Cholesterol?

Defibrillator Electrodes, cardioverter.
Heart

Abnormal Heart Rhythm (Bradycardia)

Get Dr Weils Newsletter Updates

Stay Connected With Dr. Weil - Get Free Newsletters Right In Your Inbox

Exclusive Lifestyle, Nutrition & Health Advice

Dr. Weil Logo Weil™ Andrew Weil, M.D.
Information
  • About Us
  • Press Information
  • Advertising
  • Contact Us
  • Terms of Use
  • Privacy Policy
  • Manage Email Subscription
Trending Articles
Healthy food in heart and cholesterol diet concept on vintage boards
Heart

A Natural Way to Lower Cholesterol?

blood pressure test
Heart

A Pill to Prevent Heart Disease?

Daily Tips
3 Simple Ways To Help Prevent Blindness
Health Tips

3 Simple Ways To Help Prevent Blindness

Want To Lower Your Blood Pressure
Health Tips

Want To Lower Your Blood Pressure? Try The Corpse Pose

  • Flickr
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Youtube
  • Pinterest
  • Instagram

Terms of Use | Privacy Policy

Information on this website is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for the advice provided by your physician or other healthcare professional. You should not use the information on this website for diagnosing or treating a health problem or disease, or prescribing any medication or other treatment. Any third party offering or advertising on this website does not constitute an endorsement by Andrew Weil, M.D. or Healthy Lifestyle Brands.

©Copyright 2022 Healthy Lifestyle Brands, LLC. All rights reserved. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is prohibited. www.drweil.com