ABSTRACT
In the US two-thirds of the general population consume alcohol, and approximately 10% of these are considered heavy alcohol users. A majority of these also use cigarettes which, in sufficient quantity and duration, can represent a significant interaction affecting cardiac muscle function and composition [1]. About 5 million Americans have coronary artery disease and approximately 50 million have high blood pressure [2]. Treatment for these conditions may involve additive or synergistic effects when combined with ethanol and result in mild transient effects or occasional serious consequences [3]. In fact, Shinn et al. have reported the interaction of alcohol with about 150 medications, some of which were prescribed for the treatment of cardiovascular disease [4].
