PREMIUM --

PA file photo dated 27/9/03 of a pint of beer. Drinking a moderate amount of alcohol can boost the recovery of patients who have had surgery to open blocked arteries, a study revealed Tuesday September 14, 2004. Researchers followed 225 men who had a balloon angioplasty, also known as percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA), to open up their blocked arteries.They found that those who drank a moderate amount of alcohol a week after surgery were less likely to need more surgery. See PA 0430 story HEALTH Heart.