Alcohol......

[Fismith69]

Just would like a few opinions on alcohol intake, I’m still in the early stages of HF diagnosis, awaiting MRI scan etc, what I’d like to know is are you able to have a few glasses of wine on a weekend? I like to share a bottle of wine with my husband on a Saturday night, and although I’m on BPtablets , beta blockers and diuretics I’m not sure ( apart from it effecting my BP slightly) if it’s ok? The cardiologist when I was in hospital said it was, as long as I was sensible , yet my GP says not! Many thanks, Fi 😊

[stevejb1810]

Hi. This is a very common question and it does divide people somewhat but the consensus is it’s fine in moderation. Eat, drink and be merry but just be sensible about it.

Steve

[Sina-6491 in reply to stevejb1810]

What he said😊

[Donkster]

If you do have a wine find your own levels of tolerance because it can sometimes effect you more later on. Moderation is finding what you’re going to be ok on ( But Enjoy)

[HarryBell]

I would suggest that you stop drinking altogether you will feel much better pretty soon

[skid112 Heart Star]

Hi there, its perfectly acceptable in moderation, as you will find most things in moderation are acceptable. Its the quality of life not the quantity of life

Mark

[laura_dropstitch Heart Star]

Hi. I have heart failure too. I decided to stop drinking at the beginning of this year, but had always enjoyed a couple of glasses of wine a few nights of the week before that. My consultant said the same as yours - in moderation it's fine - and I didn't suffer any particular problems from it. I do feel better since I gave it up, though. I'm on a 1.5 litre daily fluid allowance and I think I was regularly going over that thanks to the wine, plus it's not the best fluid for hydration really! I'm surprised how much I'm enjoying NOT drinking, I think partly because it preyed on my mind as something I wasn't entirely comfortable about doing, but that might be because my idea of moderation could have been a bit more...moderate! Ha! As most of the other comments have said, I think you could safely drink in moderation if it's something you enjoy doing and you don't feel any ill effects from it. Relaxation and happiness is an important aspect of health too. Good luck!

[Fismith69]

Thanks everyone, I think subconsciously I felt guilty if I had a few glasses, if that makes sense, but as my mum used to say ‘ a little bit of what you fancy does you good’ and I’m a big believer in that! Thank you xx

[Heartlady1]

Hi Fis.... although you may feel you aee depriving yourself if you don't drink... it does get easier very quickly and you will feel much better/healthier not drinking.

My thought is always ... why put something on my body that I know is not good for my heart.

Some suggestions that helped me when I first went down this route

I bought schloer and would drink it from a wine glass .... made me feel like everyone else... and it tastes a bit like wine too ( altho not so much the red wine lol)

Lime and soda when out is really refreshing and does not give you any headache in the morning.

I did try cutting down previously... but that doesn't really work.. . As it creeps back up.

Once you decide to stop it does get easier not to have a drink very quickly... especially as you will find you have so much more energy ... Will be happier ( alcohol is a depressant) and no headaches and hangovers.

Life is great without alcohol ... honest x

Karen

[HarryBell in reply to Heartlady1]

too true

[lizzie1986]

I love a few sociable drinks and after my heart attack I did not want to sacrifice this. what i have found in moderation I'm absolutely fine. if I have too much (like I used to) I find my heart starts beating hard and my blood pressure goes silly, presumably due to the medication interaction. everything in moderation I reckon.

[Donkster]

It’s true stopping is the way to feeling better, anyone that knows me would laugh at me saying this as I have always been like father ted DRINK LOL I would like to say I stopped myself but really I had to just wasn’t agreeing with me. After a fairly short time it didn’t bother me and now I actually have the same feeling from not drinking as I when I did. Being stronger and able to relax easier I to supplemented my tipple for a non alcoholic drink at first now I just would rather have a decaf coffee 😇

[HarryBell]

I recommend that if you like beer to try the CLAUSTHALER alcohol free beer (Waitrose stock it) it tastes really good not like the majority of the other alcohol free beers- great for barbqs. I used to drink a bit and now I feel so much better for abstaining, it is a win win as the Clausthaler is low in calories and so cheap! Enjoy

[gal4God]

My cardiologist says no achool and told me the few pints of beer I had on a special occasion was to much for my heart. I’d onli have half a pint to a pint a night. Sorry I can’t spell.

[Phil-52]

My surgeon said "be sensible but live a life". Can't thank the man enough. I owe it to him and myself to get the balance right.

[Heartlady1]

I think you can "live a life" without alcohol a very good healthy and fun life! I do think that our society is too fixated with alcohol and that people think life must in some way be "hard" " deprived" " miserable" without alcohol. When indeed the exact opposite is true.

Even when i go to hospital when I am asked about my alcohol intake and i say i no longer drink i have had a nurse say " oh dear thats harsh can you never now have a drink?" Instead of saying well done that is great that you are helping your heart.

My cardiologist team however and my gp ALWAYS say that's great and is much better for your heart.

And not only is it better for my heart.. . It has truly been better for me. I do SO much more.... feel happier and more positive and have so much more energy.

When " friends" have said I am boring without a drink or " go on just have one" I have ditched those friends.

And far from being boring I am doing more walking... go for meals out, theatre and meet up with friends all the time. Have not laughed so much.. . And don't get as stressed about work or life.

Please see that not drinking...... it's not a penance...its a wonderful happy way of life.

People don't feel sorry for people who give up smoking... they see it as a positive step to healthy living.... well giving up alcohol is just the same. 😃

[Fismith69]

Many thanks for all your opinions, it’s obviously a very personal thing! I can take it or leave alcohol, it’s not a necessity in my life, it’s just nice to have the occasional glass . I feel great in myself , and I feel really positive about my diagnosis, so onwards and upwards and thank you all once again for taking the time to respond ❤️❤️

[Fortepiano]

I can understand how people can feel it's easier to abstain totally rather than reduce alcohol, but on the other hand there is no evidence that moderate alcohol is bad for the heart, and you don't necessarily want to lose a pleasant Saturday ritual that you share with your husband.

However it might be a good idea to compromise, and share rather less than a bottle between you. I very rarely drink spirits, but I like wine and enjoy trying different wines; however I wanted to reduce my breast cancer risk ( where alcohol is much more strongly implicated). We bought a 'vacu-vin' bottle stopper and a pair of small wine glasses - some modern wine glasses can hold half a bottle! So I would recommend keeping the Saturday ritual if you both enjoy it, but reducing the number of glasses, so you share a half or even a third of a bottle between you. I sip in a leisurely manner rather than quaff, and enjoy the wine rather than the alcohol - the upside of drinking less is that I can afford a nicer bottle!

[Gmck]

on a similar cocktail of drugs waiting for an ablation, was advised not to drink alcohol until id had the op. Hadnt had a drink since xmas day but did have a couple of glasses of wine the other day with no effect. Think the key is moderation the odd glass is ok