Women who have an alcoholic drink or two a day in midlife turn out to be healthier overall in their old age, a new study found.

Previous research has pointed to health benefits for men and women with regular alcohol use, including lower risk of heart problems. But because of concerns about excess drinking, the American Heart Association and other groups recommend women don't exceed one drink per day. The guideline for men is two drinks. The group also doesn't recommend that non-drinkers start drinking.

The new research, presented Monday at the American Heart Association's annual meeting in Chicago, suggests women might not have to limit themselves to the one-drink-a-day guideline. A drink is defined as a 12-ounce beer, one ounce of hard alcohol, or five ounces of wine, which is often less than the typical serving in a wine goblet.

Another study presented at the conference showed that women who had a daily drink had a lower risk of stroke.

Doctors warn that the alcohol guidelines aren't cumulative so that people can't safely save up to have several drinks on a weekend, for example. They also underline that drinking too much can cause liver problems. And some studies have suggested an elevated breast-cancer risk in women even with moderate alcohol consumption.