Moderate Drinking Is Between 1 And 2 Units Of Alcohol A Day (one Unit Is Half

Moderate drinking is between 1 and 2 units of alcohol a day (one unit is half a pint of beer, pub measure of spirit or a small glass of wine). This amount can even be beneficial to the heart by having a protective effect against these diseases in men over 40 and post menopausal women (HIS02). Although this is probably the hardest to adhere to as statistics show the UK having the highest incidence of binge drinking sessions (more than half governments recommended alcohol allowance for a week in on session) with report of 40 sessions per year for men and 22 sessions per year for women (IAS 2004).
Reducing Excess Weight
Increased levels of fat mean the body has extra weight to carry and therefore the heart has to work harder to supply blood around the body. Obesity also increases the amount of fats in the blood which can also begin to deposit in the arteries. Other reasons for obesity, such as the type of job the person does or the social and leisure activities they engage in, which can be affected by social class, are also factors that may can influencing their risk group.

Other Treatments
Changes to healthier lifestyles are very advantageous to reducing the risk of heart disease but sometimes it can be hard to stick to them or even just to begin to change even small aspects as these changes have repercussions on other aspects of their lifestyle. In the cases where a dramatic changes need to be made there are other treatments available, such as surgery or more commonly, drugs. There are many different types of drugs used to treat different forms of heart disease and its complications (angina, heart attack, heart failure, high blood pressure/ cholesterol, valvular heart disease, arrhythmias) usually by modifying the way the heart works, although some can be taken as a preventative medication others need diagnosed symptoms before use (HIS17). Table Two shows the drugs that can be used, though, as with any drug there are associated side effects and risks by taking them.
Table Two: Type of Drugs for the Treatment of Heart Disease (information from HIS17)
Drug
Examples
Used for
Problems

ACE (Angiotensisn Converting Enzyme) inhibitors and Angiotensin II Antagonists
Ramipril, lisinopril, perindopril
Heart failure, to lower blood pressure by relaxing arteries
Can effect kidneys and liver

Anti-arrhythmic drugs
Amiodarone, flecainide, propafenone, digoxin
Control heart rhythm
Loss of appetite, nausea

Anticoagulants
Heparin, warfarin.