College students face risk of heart diseases due to binge drinking

Students on college campuses do not fear pulling all-nighters at parties and drinking a large amount of alcohol, assuming that their youth may protect them from the destructive effects of their lifestyle. However, according to a study by researchers from the University of Illinois, people in their 20s are not immune to heart disease caused by binge drinking.

“Binge drinking is neurotoxic and our data supports that there may be serious cardiovascular consequences in young adults,” said professor Shane Phillips, who led the study.

The researchers studied two groups, both made up of healthy non-smoking students: one of those who binge drink and the other who abstain from drinking.

On average, the students in the binge drinking group consumed five or more drinks in two hours, at least six times a month, for four years. Those in the other group consumed no more than five drinks in the past year.

The result showed that the former group had impaired functions in two main blood vessels crucial in controlling blood flow -- endothelium and smooth muscle. These malfunctions could later trigger serious heart diseases such as atherosclerosis or hardening of the arteries.

Professor Mariann Piano, co-author of the study, said that it was important for young adults to acknowledge the fact that extreme forms of heavy drinking were associated with “serious social and medical consequences.”

From news report
(knews@heraldcorp.com)