Moreover, myofibrils showed a progressively distorted structure, resulting in a homogeneous mass. One relevant question concerning ethanol cardiac toxicity is if ethanol itself or its active metabolite acetaldehyde causes cardiac damage 73,74. In fact, both molecules are directly cardiotoxic, decreasing structural protein synthesis and heart contractility and increasing oxidative and metabolic damage, leading to autophagy 20,75. In experimental studies, acetaldehyde directly impairs cardiac contractile function 76, disrupts cardiac excitation–contraction coupling, and promotes oxidative damage and lipid peroxidation 20. Acetaldehyde is produced at a lower quantity in the heart as compared to the liver, and systemic acetaldehyde does not achieve toxic heart concentrations 77. In addition, acetaldehyde is able to interact with proteins and produce protein-adduct compounds that are highly reactive and may induce additional inflammatory and immunologic heart damage 78.
Heart health support awaits
In contrast, European studies focusing on the prevalence of ACM included only subjects diagnosed with DCM and applied the consumption threshold of 80 g/d for ≥ 5 years, finding an ACM prevalence of 23%-47% among idiopathic DCM patients9-12 (Figure 1). Askanas et al21 found a significant increase in the myocardial mass and of the pre-ejection periods in drinkers of over 12 oz of whisky (approximately 120 g of alcohol) compared to a control group of non-drinkers. However, no differences were found in these parameters between the sub-group of individuals who had been drinking for 5 to 14 years and the sub-group of individuals who had a drinking history of over 15 years. Kino et al22 found increased ventricular thickness when consumption exceeded 75 mL/d (60 g) of ethanol, and the increase was higher among those subjects who consumed over 125 mL/d (100 g), without specifying the duration of consumption. In another study on this topic, Lazarević et al23 divided a cohort of 89 asymptomatic individuals whose consumption exceeded 80 g/d (8 standard units) into 3 groups according to the duration of their alcohol abuse.
- While many people will recover from this condition if they abstain from alcohol, others will have symptoms and related problems for the rest of their life.
- In the study by Gavazzi et al10, ACM patients who continued drinking exhibited worse transplant-free survival rates after 7 years than those who stopped drinking alcohol (27% vs 45%)10.
- In these studies, haemodynamic and echocardiographic parameters were measured in individuals starting an alcohol withdrawal program.
- These changes, though subtle, were similar to those found by Ferrans and Hibbs in eight deceased individuals diagnosed with ACM42,43.
- Therefore, based on the existence or absence of congestive heart failure symptoms and signs, individuals may be classified as asymptomatic (preclinical phase) or symptomatic (clinical phase).
Scripted Language in Children: What It Is, Why It Happens, and How to Support Speech Development
Although a small number relative to the more than 1000 proteins localized to amphetamine addiction treatment the mitochondria, high fidelity mtDNA is critical in the formation and stability of the complexes important for oxidative phosphorylation 69, 75-78. The consequence of the decrease in many mitochondrial proteins is poorly functioning mitochondria. Experimental studies analysing the depressive properties of alcohol on the cardiac muscle invariably use similar approaches31-39. Accordingly, a given amount of alcohol is administered to volunteers or alcoholics, followed by the measurement of a number of haemodynamic parameters and, in some cases, echocardiographic parameters.
- Findings from gross examination include an enlarged heart with four-chamber dilatation and overall increased cardiac mass.
- However, with early diagnosis and proper treatment, many patients can manage their symptoms and improve heart health.
- There are some diabetes and stroke prevention cures that indicate some benefits to social consumption.
- This multi-factorial effect is attributed to genetic factors 27 and ethnic 28 variability.
How to Know if You Might Have Valvular Heart Disease vs Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy
Since ethanol consumption of the global population is not currently under control 2, the incidence of alcoholic cardiomyopathy is expected to be maintained in the future, especially in specific population groups, such as adolescents and young people 3. Therefore, efforts for the prevention, early detection, and specific treatment in this relevant disease should be established 45. The direct dose-dependent effect between alcohol intake and development of ACM is clearly established 50,52, women being more sensitive than men to the toxic effects of ethanol on the heart 46. However, genetic polymorphisms, the use of other concomitant drugs (tobacco, cocaine), and the https://ecosoberhouse.com/ presence of other cardiac risk factors (hypertension, diabetes) may influence and worsen the natural course of ACM in each specific individual 27,72,98.
- Whether you are a healthcare provider, a concerned family member, or someone struggling with alcohol use, understanding the reality of alcoholic cardiomyopathy empowers you to take meaningful steps.
- Behavioral therapy, support groups, and addiction counseling are essential components of a comprehensive care plan.
- Most often, the safest way for someone who struggles with alcoholism to stop drinking alcohol is to attend a substance abuse treatment program that offers medically supervised detox.
3. Ethanol or Acetaldehyde
Dysregulated excessive autophagy, together with other factors such as oxidative stress, neurohormonal activation, and altered fatty acid metabolism, contributes to cardiac structural and functional damage following alcoholism. This influences the maintenance of cardiac geometry and contractile function, increasing the development of ACM 121. In ACM, protein degradation with sarcomere disarray and contractile protein loss has been suggested to be a key point of autophagy induction 18. Different pathogenic hypotheses have been suggested, such as the pivotal role of acetaldehyde 122, the role of oxidative stress and stress signaling cascades 109, and the translocation alcoholic cardiomyopathy is especially dangerous because of NFkB into the nucleus 106. Apoptosis occurs mainly as a consequence of lipid peroxidation and oxidative stress in various body organs.