Alcohol and the heart.
Acute alcohol ingestion can lead to alterations of either mechanical function or electrophysiologic properties of the heart, whereas chronic consumption can lead to progressive cardiac dysfunction and congestive cardiomyopathy. On the other hand, alcohol appears to have a protective effect for coronary artery disease when consumed in low amounts, although prophylactic use of alcohol is not recommended.
D000328:Adult; D000435:Alcoholic Intoxication / Q000150:complications*; D000437:Alcoholism / Q000150:complications*; D000818:Animals; D003327:Coronary Disease / Q000188:drug therapy; D000431:Ethanol / Q000494:pharmacology* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D006321:Heart / Q000187:drug effects*; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects
D000431:Ethanol