Binge drinking clogs arteries with plaque

By HealthDay News

"The specific pathway through which binge drinking contributes to clogged arteries has been identified by University of Rochester Medical Center researchers."

"Alcoholic beverages contain ethanol, which is mostly converted into acetaldehyde. The Rochester team found that binge drinking-related levels of acetaldehyde make immune cells called monocyctes more likely to stick to blood vessel walls and cause inflammation that contributes to blood vessel blockage -- atherosclerosis."

"The study contributes to a growing body of evidence that drinking patterns have as much, or more, impact on cardiovascular disease risk than the total amount of alcohol consumed. The findings also may help efforts to develop new treatments to counter atherosclerosis, which can lead to heart attack and stroke, the researchers said..."

Full article available at http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2008/12/04/AR200812...