A new study by South Korean scientists shows that people in their 20s and 30s who drink moderately or heavily face an increased risk of stroke compared to young people who drink little or nothing. The risk increases in proportion to how many years a young person has been drinking heavily.

Seoul National University researchers, who published a related publication in the American Academy of Neurology’s journal Neurology, analyzed data from more than 1.5 million people, of whom 3,153 suffered a stroke during the six-year study.

It turned out that people who drank moderately or heavily for more than two years were on average about 20% more likely to have a stroke than those who drank only occasionally (less than 105 grams per week) or avoided alcohol altogether.

People with two years of moderate or heavy drinking had a 19% increased risk of stroke, three years by 22%, and four years by 23%, especially for hemorrhagic stroke.

The researchers noted that “over the past few decades, the incidence of stroke in young people has been steadily increasing, and associated episodes lead to death and severe disability. At this age, it is important to prevent strokes, as well as reduce alcohol consumption.”

^{Source: RES-IPE}