Can patients with myocardial ischemia drink alcohol?
Disease description:
Since my father usually enjoys drinking alcohol, but he was recently diagnosed with myocardial ischemia during a check-up, I would like to ask if he can still drink alcohol?
Doctor's answer (1)
Dr. Wang Xin
Myocardial ischemia, which refers to insufficient blood supply to the heart, is a relatively common type of cardiovascular disease. Whether patients can consume alcohol needs to be considered from multiple perspectives.
1. Alcohol has a vasodilatory effect and may temporarily relieve symptoms of myocardial ischemia in the short term, but this effect is only temporary and varies among individuals.
2. Long-term or excessive alcohol consumption can damage vascular endothelium, accelerate the progression of atherosclerosis, worsen myocardial ischemia, and even lead to severe consequences such as myocardial infarction.
3. Alcohol may also affect the heart's electrical activity, increasing the risk of arrhythmias, which is particularly detrimental to patients with myocardial ischemia.
Patients with myocardial ischemia should strictly limit alcohol intake and ideally abstain completely. At the same time, they should follow medical advice and undergo standardized treatment to improve myocardial blood supply and prevent complications.
