Although there was a time when a glass of red wine a day was thought to benefit the heart, that is no longer the thinking.

In fact, there is now more evidence linking alcohol use with an increased risk of heart disease.

According to 2024 research published in the Journal of the American Heart Association, when substance use was associated with cardiac death, alcohol was the most prominent substance used.

Leila Genjehei, MD, a Kaiser Permanente Vallejo cardiologist, explains why drinking can harm your heart and what you can do about it.

What amount of alcohol is harmful to your heart health?

Any amount of alcohol is harmful. That said, we are most concerned about heavy drinking and its effect on your heart.

Heavy drinking is defined as consuming 15 or more drinks per week for men and eight or more drinks per week for women. Drinking this much may lead to higher blood pressure, inflammation, and obesity, all of which increase the risk of heart disease.

In addition, heavy alcohol consumption can lead to other heart issues. One example is cardiomyopathy, which is a group of heart muscle diseases that weaken the heart’s ability to pump blood effectively. Other examples include cardiac arrhythmia and atrial fibrillation — an irregular heartbeat — that can increase the risk of blood clots, stroke, and heart failure, according to the American Heart Association.

Over time, excessive alcohol use and binge drinking can lead to cardiovascular disease and chronic diseases, both of which can affect quality of life.

So how bad is heavy drinking for your heart?

Studies estimate that each year, there are more than 178,000 deaths attributed to excessive alcohol use, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

As a result, alcohol is one of the leading preventable causes of death in the United States. It follows tobacco, poor diet, physical inactivity, and illegal drugs.

Limiting alcohol to one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men is recommended but talk to your physician about appropriate amounts.

Any tips for reducing alcohol use?

Here are my top suggestions for how to drink less alcohol.

Have a plan. It’s not always easy to quit altogether. Focus on setting smaller, attainable goals.

Manage triggers. If you drink more around certain people or when engaging in various activities, find other ways to engage and spend your time.

Find support. Seek out support from others. That could be friends, family, and a support group, like AA, or other mental health resources. Talk to your doctor about treatment options that may be available.

Many people have difficulty controlling their drinking at some point in their lives. The good news is that no matter how severe the problem may seem, there are ways to get treatment.

Even small reductions in alcohol consumption can make a difference in improving health conditions, including cardiovascular health.

See a related story on how Kaiser Permanente addiction and recovery services can help with alcohol use.