Alcohol may help heart attack survivors

New research from Harvard University has shown that male heart attack survivors who drink alcohol in moderation may be less likely to die from heart disease and other conditions than non-drinkers.

Scientists monitored the health of first time heart attack survivors and found that men who drank up to two alcoholic drinks a day had a 42 per cent lower risk of death from heart disease than men who didn't drink.

While there were benefits of moderate drinking, excessive drinking is not healthy and can increase the risk of alcoholism, high blood pressure, obesity and stroke.