Researchers from Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston said that the study showed than men who drink heavily were 45 percent more likely to suffer heart arrhythmia than light drinkers. In atrial fibrillation, the upper chambers of the heart beat erratically, leading to possible blood clots and stroke.

"I think the clinical assumption has always been that if there is a higher risk of atrial fibrillation among alcohol drinkers, it is among people who drink a lot. Our results confirm this belief," said lead study author Dr. Kenneth J. Mukamal.

Researchers looked at coronary-health data on 16,415 men and women for the study. They said that heart problems are probably just as common among female drinkers, but the data did not include enough female heavy drinkers to support that conclusion.

About 5 percent of all atrial defibrillation cases among men are caused by alcohol, the authors estimated.

The research appears in the Sept. 13, 2005 issue of the journal Circulation.

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