The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Insti‑tute identifies excessive consumption of alcohol as one of the lifestyle choices associated with a higher risk for isch‑aemic heart disease, which the World Health Organization notes is the leading cause of death across the globe. Excessive alcohol con‑sumption increases blood pressure, and high blood pressure is a risk factor for heart dis‑ease. The NHLBI con‑siders consumption of more than two drinks per day for men and more than one drink per day for women exces‑sive. Such consumption can increase cholesterol and triglyceride levels, and elevated levels of each is considered a risk factor for heart disease. Triglycerides are a com‑mon type of fat found in the body that are also found in certain foods, including butter, foods with high amounts of saturated fat, sugary foods, and simple car‑bohydrates.
