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Alcohol and Heart disease, published by Talyor and Francis is
a compilation of papers by specialists in the field, covering
alcohol and hemorrhagic and ischemic stroke, platelet function
and cardiovascular disease as well as much discussed confounders
such as the role of lifestlye, patterns of drinking, tobacco use
and interaction with medication and drugs.
The prefaces states ‘Of course, the consideration of alcohol use
and abuse presents special problems. Human kind has had a complex
relationship with alcohol from the beginning of recorded history.
In most societies, some level of alcohol consumption is acceptable,and
social and religious rites often incorporate drinking. That alcohol
has both detrimental and beneficial effects has aways been appreciated.
Along with some of the obvious negative effects of intoxication
and chronic use, the preservative, antiseptic and anesthetic effects
of alcohol have been known since ancient times.Effects of alcohol
on the heart and cardiovascular system folow the same paradigm:
its chronic abuse is clearly associated with negative effects,
such as hypertension, heart failure, bleeding disorders, atrial
fibrillation and stroke. At the same time .. recent large scale
epidemiological studies demonstrate that used in moderation, it
might protect against morbidity and mortality associated with
coronary artery disease and perhaps thrombotic strokes’.
The resulting volume offers a detailed discussion and review of
the most recent research concerning alcohol and the heart as well
as related background material.
Alcohol and Heart Disease Edited by Ronald R. Watson and Adam
K Myers. Publishrd by Taylor and Francis, 11 New Fetter Lane,
London EC4P 4EE and 29, West 35th Street, New York, NY 1001. ISBN
0-415-27347-1 |
