Is there a more festive way to celebrate than with a glass of champagne? This bubbly beverage can make us happy for another reason: It may reduce the risk of sudden cardiac arrest or SCA.

Recent research has found that certain compounds in champagne improve blood flow and support vascular function.

That's good news since more than 350,000 people in the U.S. suffer sudden cardiac arrest every year. Cardiac arrest is a life-threatening condition where the heart suddenly and unexpectedly stops beating, or beats too ineffectively to circulate blood to the brain and other organs. It's a medical emergency that requires resuscitation and often the use of an automated external defibrillator (AED) to get the heart back to normal functioning.

This is the first time certain compounds in champagne, and other white wines, have been associated with lowering the risk of a cardiac condition.

This isn't the first time that wine has been cited as a good for our heart health. Research has linked moderate wine consumption to cardiovascular benefits, but the majority of those studies focused on the impact of red wine's antioxidant organic compounds called polyphenols.

This is the first time certain compounds in champagne, and other white wines, have been associated with lowering the risk of a cardiac condition. “To our knowledge, this is the first study that comprehensively investigated the associations between non-clinical modifiable risk factors and SCA incidence,” the study's co-investigator, Renjie Chen of Fudan University in Shanghai, China, said in a press release.

Using data from the UK Biobank, the study included more than 500,000 people. Of those tracked, 3,147 participants suffered sudden cardiac arrest during a typical follow-up period of 14 years.

Nine factors were identified as having a strong association with a reduced risk of cardiac arrest. Other than white wines, the factors identified included: eating more fruit, staying slim, maintaining a positive outlook on life, and reduced stress.

“We were surprised by the large proportion (40 to 63 percent) of SCA cases that could be prevented by improving unfavorable profiles,” Chen said.

The risk of sudden cardiac arrest tends to be greater among individuals with close family members, such as a parent or sibling, who have had SCA. Men and Black patients also are at greater risk.

Exactly why sudden cardiac arrest happens is not fully understood. According to the American College of Cardiology, it is most often caused by a dangerous heart rhythm called ventricular fibrillation, although it can happen to anyone at any age. The risk can be greater among individuals with close family members, such as a parent or sibling, who have had SCA; men and Black patients also are at greater risk.

Usually, the first sign of cardiac arrest is an individual fainting, collapsing or appearing lifeless. You may not be able to feel a pulse. Call 911 immediately and perform CPR. Along with the use of an Automated External Defibrillator or AED, CPR is crucial for increasing the chances of survival.

The study is published in the Canadian Journal of Cardiology.