Smoking May Erase Heart Benefits of Light Drinking

If you indulge in moderate drinking, you've probably heard that it might reduce your risk for heart trouble, including stroke. A new British study supports that notion, but it also finds that light drinking's benefit in lowering stroke risk does not apply to smokers. "Any potential beneficial effect of drinking moderate amounts of alcohol on stroke may be counteracted by cigarette smoking," said lead researcher Yangmei Li, a doctoral candidate in the Institute of Public Health at the University of Cambridge. Li presented her findings Monday at a press conference held by the American Academy of Neurology during its annual meeting in Toronto. More....