A small amount of alcohol (one or two units a day) is thought to protect the heart from coronary heart disease in men over 40 and in women after the menopause. However, larger amounts can increase your risk of high blood pressure. Other effects are weight gain and triglycerides (simple fats) in the blood.
One or two units a day can be good for your heart, three or four units a day is fine but there is no added benefit to your heart, and more than four units is bad for your health.
The total number of units each week should be no more than 21.
One or two units a day can be good for your heart, three units a day is fine but there is no added benefit to your heart, and more than three units is bad for your health.
The total number of units each week should be no more than 14.
A unit is half a pint of normal-strength beer, lager and cider, a 125ml glass of wine, or a pub measure of spirits. Try to have two days a week without alcohol. Do not save your units up and have them over one or two nights at the weekend as this will increase your blood pressure and is bad for your general health.
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