Men who drink more than 21 units of alcohol weekly and women who drink more than 14 units weekly are at higher risk of heart disease, heart failure and stroke, according to Irish researchers.

HealthDay News reported May 14 that researcher Azra Mahmud of the Trinity Center for Health Science at St. James Hospital in Dublin reported that heavy drinking raises blood pressure, stiffens blood vessels and makes heart muscles more rigid in men -- and causes enlarged hearts among female drinkers.

"These shocking findings illustrate the extreme risks that heavy drinkers are exposing themselves to -- some of which are particularly pronounced in women," said Mahmud. "We want to make sure people aren't getting mixed messages about alcohol. The potentially fatal effects of heavy drinking may more than counteract the well-documented benefits of sensible alcohol intake."

Researchers studied 100 men and 100 women who were either nondrinkers, moderate drinkers, or heavy drinkers. Ultrasound and other tests were used to detect coronary damage among the research group.

"The excessive consumption of alcohol causes significant arterial and ventricular stiffening and an enlarged heart; factors associated with poor cardiovascular outcomes in hypertensive populations," Mahmud said.

The study was presented at the annual meeting of the American Society of Hypertension this week in New Orleans.