Blood clots: Drinking wine could make blood ‘less sticky’

Doctor explains symptoms of deep vein thrombosis

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Millions of people are affected by blood clots around the world every year, yet many remain undiagnosed due to a lack of symptoms. While this can lead to severe complications, there is evidence that small amounts of alcohol may reduce the risks. Drinking the right type of alcohol in the correct amount, however, may be key to reaping these benefits.

Blood platelets are small blood cells that plug holes in damaged blood vessels to halt bleeding.

Once this healing process is completed, the body will usually dissolve the blood clot. Sometimes, however, it fails to.

Deep vein thrombosis occurs when a vein has become damaged due to surgery, inflammation, infection or injury.

This will prompt a clot to form inside a deep vein in the body, usually in the leg, which doesn’t subsequently get dissolved.

The condition is harmless as long as the blood clot doesn’t enter the bloodstream and move to the lungs, where it may cause serious complications.

When it does move to the lungs, it can cause a deadly blockage which prevents blood from flowing to lung tissue – known as pulmonary embolism.

The Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, says: “It is important to know about DVT because it can happen to anybody and can cause serious illness, disability and in some cases, death.

“The good news is that DVT is preventable and treatable if discovered early.”

Some studies suggest alcohol consumed in moderate amounts can reduce the risk of deep vein thromboembolism.

Everyday Health explains: “Moderate amounts of red wine or purple grape juices daily helps keep blood platelets from sticking together and forming clots, thanks to powerful antioxidants called polyphenols in purple grapes.”

Chadi Alraies, MD, a cardiologist at the Detroit Medical Center, stresses the importance of drinking in moderation, however, as the liver can be damaged from drinking excessive amounts.

According to the expert, drinking one glass of wine may offer health benefits without putting health at risk.

This is important advice, as drinking excessive amounts of alcohol can increase platelets in the blood, making them more likely to clot randomly.

For this reason, long-term excessive drinking is discouraged as it causes long-term and consistent platelet activation.

The anti-thrombotic benefits of drinking wine were explored in research published in the Journal of Nutrition, Metabolism and Cardiovascular Disease in 2021.

Scientists discovered an inverse relationship between fruit and vegetable consumption and pulmonary embolism, and between wine consumption and deep vein thrombosis.

In other words, fruit, vegetables and wine offered protection against blood clots and their related complications.

The researchers noted: “Resveratrol in red wine and vitamin K in berries and kiwifruit have been associated with an anti-thrombotic profile and high consumption of these nutrients and foods may lower the risk of vein thromboembolism (VTE).

“In contrast, trans-fatty acids and salt in fast foods like French fries have been suggested to promote thrombosis and increase the risk of VTE.”

Other behaviours to avoid include sitting for long periods and smoking, which can both set the stage for a clot.

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