Kids, you might want to rethink that next keg stand — it might have worse consequences than a hangover.
Young adults who binge drink have heightened cardiovascular-disease risk factors, including higher blood sugar, higher total cholesterol and higher blood pressure, according to a new report in the Journal of the American Heart Association.
Scientists found that today’s young drinkers are at greater risk for drinking-linked heart issues than previous generations were.
That’s partly because they’re drinking more, and more frequently, study author Mariann Piano explains.
“Young adults need to be aware that the consequences of repeated binge drinking may harm their hearts,” Piano says in a press release. “The risk extends beyond poor school performance and increased risk for accidental injury.”
Young men who binge drank routinely were found to have higher blood pressure and higher blood cholesterol than non-binge drinkers. Meanwhile, binge-drinking women had higher blood sugar. All three of those elevated stats are risk factors for heart disease.
Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death in the US, accounting for about one-third of all deaths.