A glass of red wine, please, Doctor

Nonetheless, there does continue to be the French paradox. Why do the French with their substantial body fat diets, have half the death rate from clots in their coronary arteries than, for instance, USA citizens? The HDL ranges are no greater in the French. So what else is happening?

In 1992, the Lancet published a paper that showed that moderate alcohol consumption resulted in a forty per cent reduction in heart attacks and in 2001 The American Heart Association came out with the slogan “A drink a day will take some arterial stiffness away”.

The discovery of antioxidants such as flavonoids or resveratrol and polyphenols in the skin of the red grape, particularly when grown at high altitudes may be vital. (In white wine fermentation, the skin is removed). These substances have been shown to avoid harm to the inside of blood vessels and to inhibit blood clotting cells (platelets) so clots are significantly less most likely to form. This only applies to reasonable alcohol consumption and not if alcohol is taken at ranges larger than two small glasses (125mls) everyday. Marques-Vidal and colleagues in 2001 compared drinkers in Northern Ireland (largely weekend hefty intake) with French (typical smaller everyday quantities) and located adverse results on blood strain in the Irish (amongst the highest incidence of heart assault deaths around the world).

I was fortunate that my hospital management and medical colleagues in Swindon supported my prescribing red wine to my cardiac patients. Considering that 2003, I have written the prescription in the drug prescription chart for the duration of my rounds. Only sufferers with coronary clots are presented this medication. Evident contraindications this kind of as history of drug or alcohol addiction, abdomen or liver disease are observed and individuals with a hint of psychological or psychiatric difficulties are excluded.

Which wine is best for avoiding clots? Antioxidants are highest in Chilean Cabernet Sauvignon (Glasgow University 1993), a Chilean red and grown at large altitude. Other useful wines consist of individuals manufactured from the Pinot Noir and Petite Syrah (Shiraz) grapes. Surprisingly, the Italian wines come in the middle purchase in terms of antioxidant concentrations and Red Zinfandel from California is amongst the lowest.

The very good information is that, in general, the younger and the cheaper wines with screw tops tend to be very best! Once a bottle has been opened the antioxidants dissipate as the wine ‘breathes’ and thus I suggest the use of vacuum stoppers. Also antioxidants might be absorbed by corks in the course of prolonged storage specifically in wood.

Of course, moderate wine consumption have to be regarded as as only element of the measures needed to avert heart attacks. Much more importantly, very good blood stress handle, sensible dietary habits such as decreased excess fat consumption and fresh greens, fat reduction, smoking cessation, regular workout and stress coping mechanisms are vital if you wish to decrease your odds of getting a heart assault.

Your doctor will be capable to advise you if wine is not a excellent concept. So please check 1st!

Our CCU is now much more modern day with improved privacy for our sufferers without compromising on care. Apart from their day-to-day dose of red wine, cardiac sufferers can now be distracted with bedside TVs and earphones. However, even with incredible advances in cardiac care because 1998, the sufferers are nevertheless the exact same, “What about some red wine Doc?”

Dr William A McCrea FRCP is a advisor cardiologist

A glass of red wine, please, Doctor