Heavy College Drinking = Heart Disease Later in Life?

Filed in archive Cases , Diagnostics , Studies on April 23, 2007

Who among you here have been on some drinking binge sometime during their college life, please raise your hands?

[me raises hand first..] :-D

Well, this is the bad news to those who heavily drank in college: we may have an increase risk of future heart disease.

At least according to a small study conducted by Minnesota researchers whose results have been reported at the American Heart Association's 8th Annual Conference on Arteriosclerosis, Thrombosis and Vascular Biology.

In the said study, the group of college students who drank heavily had higher levels of C-reactive protein (CRP) while moderate drinkers have been found to have the lowest CRP levels.

CRP is a blood marker for inflammation that can increase the risk for heart disease.

According to Elizabeth Donovan, lead researcher of the study and an undergraduate student at the College of saint Benedict in St. Joseph, Minn.:

"These students may be setting themselves up for an increased risk for cardiovascular disease. This highlights an additional reason to be concerned about heavy drinking in college-age individuals.

While most studies of alcohol and CRP levels have focused on older people, this small study examined individuals in early adulthood. If high CRP levels are recognized at an early age, the person has a chance to make healthier lifestyle choices."

Hmm...this should warn college students and young people to go easy on the alcohol. Believe me, this particular age group mostly feel like there's no tomorrow when they drink and party.

Well, I hope findings like this should convince them to drink moderately and occasionally.

Find more details from the full report.