Science Says Binge Drinkers are More Prone to Strokes

Science has yet another stark warning for heavy drinkers: binge drinking dramatically raises the risk for a bleeding stroke. Awakenings for Women reports on French researchers releasing a study showing that those who drink three or more alcoholic beverages a day are more likely to suffer a stroke a decade and a half earlier than those who drink less. This is of even greater concern to women, who are more likely to die from a stroke than men are.

Awakenings for Women reports that the study looked at the medical records of 540 people who experienced intracerebral hemorrhages, a stroke caused by bleeding in the brain. Of the 540 people, a quarter were identified as heavy drinkers consuming three or more drinks of pure alcohol a day. The study then examined brain CT scans of those with bleeding strokes. It found that heavy drinkers were experiencing strokes at the age of 60, as opposed to moderate to nondrinkers who would be more likely to suffer a stroke around the age of 74.

Additionally, The Stroke Association in the UK released a study on 6,000 Scottish men, and found that those who drank more than five drinks a day were twice as likely to die of a stroke, compared to nondrinkers.

Strokes can result in blurred vision, paralysis, lack of coordination, numbness, mental confusion, and difficulty speaking.

This study confirms our knowledge that heavy drinking is very harmful on the brain and body at all ages. Fortunately, you can quit drinking alcohol immediately with our individualized alcohol treatment programs and sober living facility for women at Awakening’s for Women.