Drinking

Posted by Bob Alt on June 07, 1999 at 09:38:03
My father was diagnosed five years ago with alcohal (alcohol) indused cardiomyopathy. He was directed to discontinue consumption of alcohalic products. He is drinking two to three  glasses of wine a day. I don't think he is feeling well. He seems to run low on energy and appears bloated. He is not coughing and can speek fine.Is drinking a few glasses of wine a detriment to his health?

Posted by CCF CARDIO MD - DLB on June 08, 1999 at 09:56:49
Dear Bob
If your father has been diagnosed with alcoholic cardiomyopathy and he continues to drink at all, he virtually guarantees that his heart disease will progress to a point at which it can not be treated.
I hope this has been useful. I wish you the best of luck. Feel free to write back.
Information provided here is for general purposes only. Specific questions should be addressed to your own doctor. If you would like to make an appointment at the Cleveland Clinic Heart Center, please call 1-800-CCF-CARE or inquire online by using the Heart Center website at www.ccf.org/heartcenter. The Heart Center website contains a directory of the cardiology staff that can be used to select the physician best suited to address your cardiac problem.