“My only regret in life is that I did not drink enough champagne,” said the economist and philosopher John Maynard Keynes (1883-1946). In fact, there can be an ounce of surprising truth to this quote.
Imagine this: a glass of champagne – sparkling, crisp and, for many, reserved for toasts and celebrations. Imagine now that it is mentioned in the same sentence as a way to help prevent Sudden cardiac arrest: A condition where the heart suddenly ceases to beat, killing tens of thousands each year, often without warning. It sounds too good to be true, right?
Again, A Canadian study discovered a curious link. Using data of more than half a million people in the health research database British BiobankThe researchers found that those who consumed moderate quantities of white wine or champagne had a lower risk of suffering sudden cardiac arrest. Surprising, especially given the belief widely retained This red wineNot white, that’s what benefits the heart.
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To exclude coincidence, the researchers returned to their results by using genetic data – and the connection seemed to be firm. This suggests that there could be more in history than chance alone.
The study did not stop in wine. He explored more than 100 lifestyle and environmental factors related to sudden cardiac arrest, including diet, exercise, air pollution, emotional well -being, body composition and levels of education – which have all been independently associated with risk. The conclusion? Up to 63% of cases of sudden cardiac arrest could potentially be avoided by approaching these risk factors.
Among all the protective factors identified, some have stood out: fruit consumption, regular use of the computer (yes, really) and moderate consumption of white wine or champagne were all linked to a reduced risk of sudden cardiac arrest. For what? Which remains uncertain.
A theory is that white wine contains antioxidants that can support heart health. Another possibility is that people who drink these types of drinks can also be richer and more likely to engage in other healthy behaviors, such as eating well, to exercise regularly – and have access to better health care.
But before blowing up a plug in celebration, a word of warning: alcohol remains a complex and often contradictory player in heart health. Other large -scale studies suggest a U U relationship Between alcohol and cardiovascular disease. Non-buvers can have a certain level of risk, moderate drinkers of a glass of wine per day can see Certain advantages, but excessive alcohol consumption greatly increases the risk of high blood pressure, stroke and heart failure.
An observational study involving more than 400,000 participants even found that moderate consumption could increase the risk of arrhythmiaWhich, in some cases, can lead to a sudden death.
Thus, although champagne can offer a glow full of hope, it is not a magic solution. The broader message of the study was clear: it is the global lifestyle that counts the most. Better sleep, regular physical activity and a balanced diet has considerably reduced the risk of sudden cardiac arrest – and could prevent almost one in five cases.
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On the other hand, obesity, hypertension and chronic stress were among the strongest risk factors, as well as lower education levels and exposure to air pollution. These results emphasize that prevention of sudden cardiac arrest is not only a question of personal habits: these are also the environments in which we live and the policies that shape them. Cleanier air, better education and easier access to nutrients could all play a role.
Sudden cardiac arrest is not entirely random. Many contributory factors are under our control. Manage stress, stay active, maintain a healthy weight, sleep with quality – and yes, maybe enjoy the glass of occasional white wine – can all help. But the real power lies in the stack of small healthy choices over time. Prevention rarely concerns a single change; This is the cumulative effect of many.
And in case you wonder: Keynes underwent a series of heart attacks in 1946, starting during negotiations for the Anglo-American loan In Savannah, Georgia. He described the process as “absolute hell”. A few weeks after his return to his farm at Firle, East Sussex, he died of a heart attack at the age of 62.
Maybe he was right to drink more champagne after all.
David C. GazeLecturer in chemical pathology, University of Westminster
This article is republished from The conversation Under a creative communs license. Read it original article.