Alcohol consumption should always be considered in the management of the hypertension. Coronary heart disease may result from a high alcohol intake. However, a low intake of about one unit a day appears to be cardioprotective. Other complications include cerebrovascular accidents, especially in younger male binge drinkers and cardiomyopathy. Left untreated, this leads to Korsakoff's psychosis, which includes impaired short-term memory, amnesia and disorientation in time.
Female alcoholics are at greater risk.
Epilepsy may be associated with withdrawal, trauma-induced brain damage or alcoholic dementia. Liver damage leads to anovulation and amenorrhoea among very heavy drinkers, who are, therefore, less likely to conceive. About a third of children born to women drinking 15 units a day develop foetal alcohol syndrome. The clinical features include facial abnormalities, low birth weight, small stature and low intelligence. Moderate drinking is associated with increased risks of spontaneous abortions, stillbirths, congenital malformations and growth retardation.