Researchers compared college students who binge drink (defined as four drinks or more within two hours for women and five or more drinks within two hours for men) six times per month to people who abstained. They found that the binge drinkers had impaired circulation. In fact, endothelial function (an indicator of heart health) was reduced by 25% when compared to abstainers. Researchers say that the levels of damage are comparable to the damage found in people with heart disease. “Alcohol induces inflammation and oxidative damage that could affect your vascular function,” says study author Shane A. Phillips, PT, PhD, associate professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago. But here’s our question: If these college students stop binge drinking now (like you might have), can they reverse the effects? “Exercise and diet are known to improve vascular function in patients with cardiovascular disease so we might expect this to be possible with binge drinking,” says Phillips. Click here for more truths about your health vices. So if you partied hard in your youth, consider it another reason to eat right and shape up—starting now. Try our 28-Day Challenge to get fit, stay healthy, and live longer!
