I’m changing tack a little this week for my blog, on account of a couple of different patients I’ve seen which have highlighted what I think is a really common problem, and indeed misconception in my view. Let me explain. The first is a lady in her 80s who has had atrial fibrillation (AF) in the past, treated with an ablation. I’m not sure quite how, but we got to talking about alcohol. She had never been a big drinker, but told me how she did really miss the odd glass of good red wine. Exploring further, it transpired that she had been told never to drink again as it may set off her AF. I don’t drink much these days, but I too enjoy a glass of good red wine. I take the view I would rather have the occasional glass of good stuff than more regular average wine! (A vacuum stopper is one of my most used gadgets as it means my wife and I can keep a bottle going over the weekend without it going bad!) I would also agree that purely on health grounds, there is probably no completely ‘safe’ lower limit, and being teetotal is healthier than drinking alcohol. In my view however that misses a vital point – that life is to be enjoyed! I really enjoy the odd glass of wine, and choose that pleasure over the very small health effects at that level of consumption.
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