2012-07-16-eh_logo.jpg


By Jeffrey Kopman


Even when young adults aren't overindulging in cinnamon, playing "the choking game", or car surfing, more than half of those in college are risking their health with a more traditional pastime - binge drinking.


These hard-partying college students put themselves at immediate risk for a change in blood circulation, and a heightened risk for cardiovascular disease later in life, according to a small new study published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology.




More from Everyday Health:

Five Decisions That Can Make You Happier

The Journey to Hope and Healing Psoriasis

Acne: What's Popping in Research




"Alcohol can be directly toxic to the heart and lead to weakening of the heart muscle and heart failure," said William Abraham, MD, director of the Division of Cardiovascular Medicine at The Ohio State University Medical Center. "Toxic manifestations take a while to show up in heart detection, but can be serious enough to require heart transplant."


The Binge-Drinking Pattern


Regular binge drinking remains one of the most serious health problems for U.S. colleges, and previous research has linked youth binge drinking to higher risks for sudden death, stroke, and heart attack later in life.


Approximately 67 percent of younger adults - ages 18 to 34 - say they regularly drink alcohol, a recent Gallup poll found. That age group was second only to the 72 percent of 35- to 54-year-olds who admitted to regularly drinking alcohol.


However, the younger age group drink more per week on average -- 5.4 drinks per week compared to only 3.6 drinks for the older group. (Drinkers over the age of 55 average 3.9 weekly drinks.)


Younger adults (31 percent) also lead the way in claiming they "sometimes drink too much." Fewer middle-aged drinkers (24 percent), and far fewer older drinkers (12 percent), said they drank too much.


The youngest group, particularly those in college, binge drink the most and are therefore more susceptible to something called endothelium dysfunction -- disruption in the way their blood vessels function that has been linked to hypertension, diabetes, and septic shock, according to the American College for Cardiology study.


In the study, researchers tested 38 healthy college students (17 binge drinkers and 19 non-binge drinkers) twice during a binge-drinking episode to determine their total cholesterol, insulin and glucose, complete blood count, C-reactive protein, and blood alcohol levels. They also gave the students a questionnaire about drinking habits, and did cardiac imaging studies.


Researchers found that binge drinkers had impaired blood flow control, comparable to that of people who have a history of daily heavy drinking. When blood isn't flowing properly, it can lead to hardening of the arteries and other cardiovascular diseases.


Other Unhealthy Habits That Hurt the Heart


The study's authors stressed the dangers of binge drinking in contrast to regular and moderate alcohol consumption, and recommended that young adults be screened for a history of binge drinking to determine who is at risk of heart problems.


Dr. Abraham warned that although young adults may be harming their hearts with binge drinking, other risky behaviors and an unhealthy lifestyle play a role too.


"Illicit drug use has consequences for the heart. Cocaine, amphetamines, and stimulants can lead to heart attack or heart failure," Abraham said. "[But] one of the major issues today is teenager inactivity. Fewer teens are being active, and are spending more on computers, social media, and video games. Inactivity has a long-term impact on heart health."


Abraham also attributed short- and long-term heart problems to dietary habits.


"Inactivity and poor dietary habits of many teens are linked to the epidemic of teenage obesity, which plants the seed for heart disease in the future," he said.


"Party Hard in College, Have Heart Problems Later On" originally appeared on Everyday Health.


Also on HuffPost:






  • Processed Meat


    Hot dogs, bacon, sausage and deli meats -- even lean ones like turkey -- are made with <a href="http://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/avoid-these-foods-for-a-healthier-heart">loads of sodium and preservatives</a>, often including nitrates and nitrites, both of which have been linked to heart problems. "With processing, you lose control over the quality of the ingredients," says <a href="http://drcynthia.com/dr-cynthia/">Cynthia Thaik, M.D.</a>, a Los Angeles-based cardiologist. Processed meats are also <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/david-katz-md/nutrition-advice-the-trut_b_584758.html">higher in saturated fat and lower in protein</a> than any red meat you could prepare yourself, writes director of the Yale Prevention Research Center and HuffPost blogger, David Katz. Not convinced to stay away? Processed meats have also been linked to a <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/13/processed-meat-pancreatic-cancer-bacon-sausage_n_1204620.html">higher risk of diabetes <em>and</em> pancreatic cancer</a>.




  • Red Meat


    Yes, the processed picks are <em>worse</em> for your heart, but that doesn't mean you should go wild for steak. Instead, consider it more of a treat than a staple in your diet: It's still high in saturated fat, even when it's unprocessed. "I don't want to suggest that we have to go [completely] plant-based," says Thaik, "but moderation is always the key." If you're not planning on changing your carnivore ways anytime soon, at the very least pick a <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cuts-of-beef/MY01387">lean cut of beef</a>, which, according to the USDA, contains less than 10 grams of total fat and 4.5 grams of saturated fat. Or opt for extra-lean, with 5 grams of total fat and less than 2 of saturated fat. Of the 29 cuts that meet these regulations, <a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cuts-of-beef/MY01387">five are extra-lean</a>, according to the Mayo Clinic, including eye of round roast or steak, sirloin tip side steak, top round roast and steak, bottom round roast and steak and top sirloin steak.




  • Pizza


    That cheesy slice may contain as much as <a href="http://www.realage.com/mens-health-guide/worst-junk-food-for-heart-disease-2">two thirds of your daily recommended limit of saturated fat</a>, according to Real Age, which is found mostly in animal products like beef, pork, butter, cream and milk. The American Heart Association recommends getting no more than <a href="http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/Conditions/Cholesterol/PreventionTreatmentofHighCholesterol/Know-Your-Fats_UCM_305628_Article.jsp">7 percent of total daily calories from saturated fat</a>. (Based on a 2,000-calories-a-day diet, that totals out to about 15 grams a day of saturated fat). And even though you may think it's "just cheese," many dairy products are actually highly processed, says Thaik. To lighten up, skip extra cheese and top with veggies instead of pepperoni or sausage.




  • Alfredo Sauce


    When you consider that the ingredients in this heavy sauce are <a href="http://allrecipes.com/recipe/alfredo-sauce-2/">butter, cream and cheese</a>, it's easy to see why serving up this pasta dish would pose saturated fat problems -- especially if you're dining out where sauce is ladled over <em>piles</em> of noodles. If you really love an alfredo dish every now and again, ask for the sauce on the side and stick to just a tablespoon or two. If you're making your own at home, try a lightened-up recipe, like <a href="http://recipes.sparkpeople.com/recipe-detail.asp?recipe=163122">this one from SparkPeople</a>, which replaces butter with olive oil, cream with skim milk and cuts down on the amount of cheese.




  • Trans Fats


    These fatty acids are created through processes that make vegetable oils more solid, according to the American Heart Association. They're cheap to produce, are used to make packaged and prepared foods last longer and can be re-used in frying. But <a href="http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/FatsAndOils/Fats101/Trans-Fats_UCM_301120_Article.jsp">trans fats raise LDL or "bad" cholesterol while also lowering HDL or "good" cholesterol</a>, thereby putting your heart at risk. While a number of manufacturers have cut back on trans fat use in light of these health risks, packaged snacks, baked goods and some margarines may still contain it, according to EatingWell. Look for hydrogenated or partially hydrogenated oils on ingredients lists and beware the <a href="http://www.eatingwell.com/nutrition_health/heart_healthy_diet_center/the_worst_and_best_things_to_eat_for_your_heart?page=2">"zero trans fat" labels -- many are hiding .5 grams and rounding down to zero</a>. But considering that the AHA recommends getting <a href="http://www.heart.org/HEARTORG/GettingHealthy/FatsAndOils/Fats101/Trans-Fats_UCM_301120_Article.jsp">no more than 2 grams a day</a>, that adds up, and fast!




  • Fried Foods


    As restaurants use their frying oil over and over again, the <a href="http://www.livescience.com/14781-unhealthy-fried-foods-heart-attacks.html">fat becomes more and more saturated</a>, according to Live Science. And, as mentioned previously, trans fats are often lurking. Even though some restaurants may have cut back in the face of mounting health concerns, a number of joints still fry with solid oils like shortening, says Thaik. However, a 2012 found that <em>how</em> you fry makes a big difference. Among 41,000 Spanish adults, researchers found no link between fried food consumption and heart problems, likely because <a href="http://healthland.time.com/2012/01/25/a-healthier-way-to-eat-fried-foods/">cooking with heart-healthy olive oil is more common</a> than in the U.S, Time.com reported.




  • Soda


    "When we think of heart disease, a lot of people think cholesterol and fat, but we know that sugar, as it relates to obesity and the effect it has on insulin, has a lot to do with the development of artherosclerosis," says Thaik. In fact, drinking one sugary beverage a day leads to a <a href="http://vitals.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/03/12/10656108-soda-drinking-men-at-higher-risk-for-heart-attack">20 percent increase in a man's risk of having a heart attack</a>, according to a 2012 study, <a href="http://thechart.blogs.cnn.com/2012/03/12/a-soda-per-day-may-raise-heart-attack-risk/">even if those empty calories <em>aren't</em> causing weight gain</a>, CNN reported. Soda has previously been linked to <a href="http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/19211821">increased rates of heart disease in women</a>, as well. And diet soda isn't any better. A 2012 study found that a daily diet soda <a href="http://www.nytimes.com/2012/02/28/health/research/diet-soft-drinks-linked-to-risk-of-heart-disease.html">increased risk for stroke, heart attack and death</a>, although the exact cause is not yet fully understood.




  • Fast Food


    There's little on the drive-thru menu that isn't loaded with saturated fat, trans fat, sugar or sodium, making most of your orders recipes for disaster. And the consequences for the heart are nearly immediate. A 2012 study examined the <a href="http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/11/27/fast-food-health-arteries-beauty_n_2198725.html">effects of fast food on the arteries after just one meal</a> and found that the ability of the blood vessels to dilate dropped by 24 percent, YouBeauty reported. "Not just fast food but processed food in general has a very high sodium content just by the pure nature of having to do the preservation," says Thaik. Soups and soy sauce are obvious culprits, she says, but saltwater sushi and even bread can be more surprising sources of salt.