According to research alcohol use appears to be potentially both beneficial and hazardous. On one hand, light to moderate alcohol use (defined as no more than one drink per day for women) is thought to have a number of heart–healthy benefits for some women. On the other hand, overuse of alcohol among women has been associated with serious conditions such as alcoholic heart failure, alcoholic cardiomyopathy,  high blood pressure, obesity, arrhythmia, breast cancer and liver–related diseases. In addition, female alcoholics have a death rate that is up to twice as high as male alcoholics, and are more likely than men to die from alcohol-related accidents and suicide.

Women are urged to use moderation when drinking alcohol and to seek help if they feel that their alcohol use has gotten out of control. Women who do not drink should not start simply to obtain the health benefits of alcohol. There are other preventive strategies that are equally or even more effective in reducing the risk of heart disease.