Alcohol and Health Problems
Drinking Increases the Risk for Cancer, Osteoporosis and Injury
Heavy drinking can cause a number of health problems, including cirrhosis and stroke, as well as heightened risk for sleep disturbances, accidents, violence and suicide.
Alcohol can have serious adverse health consequences. It is important to know how much is safe to drink and to be aware of the risks of consuming more.
Safe Amounts
How much can you drink without putting your health at risk? People who suffer from certain medical conditions or are pregnant should not drink at all. For those who are able to drink, research has turned up a number of health benefits that are linked to alcohol consumption. However, the ideal amount of alcohol to achieve these benefits is one drink per day for women and one to two drinks per day for men. A drink can be 175 ml of wine, one standard-sized bottle or can of beer, or one standard shot of spirits.
Heavy drinking, which can lead to serious health problems, is more than two drinks per day for women and more than four for men. Drinking more or not drinking all week and then having many drinks in one night will not provide any additional health benefits and may cause the same health problems that would occur as a result of heavy drinking on a daily basis.
Health Problems and Risks Caused by Alcohol Consumption
- Accidents: Motor skill impairment caused by alcohol consumption makes people accident prone, and injuries tend to be more severe. Approximately half of all fatal car crashes in the United States result from drunk driving, which claims 16,000 lives in the USA each year. Potential crash risk increases by approximately 5 times at an alcohol level of 0.05 (about two standard drinks, though this will vary with size, gender and other factors), 25 times at an alcohol level of 0.08 and 80 times at a level of 0.15. In addition to car accidents, alcohol consumption increases the likelihood of suffering injuries from cycling, walking, sports, recreation, fire and violence. The risk of injury is substantially higher for women than men.
- Cancer: Alcohol consumption increases the risk for developing certain cancers, particularly of the gastrointestinal tract, pharynx, larynx, lips, mouth, esophagus, breast and liver. Among those consuming two or more drinks each day, taking a folic acid supplement (at leat 600 micrograms per day) may reduce breast cancer risk by 20% to 25%. Additionally, drinking alcohol with meals rather than on its own may decrease the likelihood of developing mouth, throat and digestive system cancers as a result of drinking.
- Cirrhosis: Cirrhosis of the liver, one of the top 10 causes of death in the United States, is a direct result of heavy drinking.
- Digestive disturbances: Drinkers are more likely to suffer from heartburn and other digestive problems.
- Heart disease: Drinking very heavily or binge drinking (even if not drinking at all between binges) increases the likelihood of suffering heart attacks. In those who already have cardiovascular disease, sudden death is more likely among drinkers.
- Hemorrhagic stroke: Heavy drinkers (including younger adults) increase their risk of hemorrhagic stroke by 80%.
- High blood pressure: Having three or more drinks a day creates a substantial risk for high blood pressure and can exacerbate an existing condition.
- Immune system suppression: Chronic or acute alcohol exposure suppresses immune function. As a result, regular drinkers are more inclined to become ill or suffer infections and tend to recover more slowly as well. Those who have consumed alcohol before sustaining a traumatic injury are 6 times more likely to die than individuals who did not drink prior to sustaining similar injuries.
- Neurological disorders: In addition to alcohol-related dementia, heavy drinkers often develop the neurological disorder Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome, which leads to cognitive impairment and memory loss.
- Obesity: Heavy drinkers are more likely to become obese due to alcohol’s high sugar content, leading to chronic health problems such as diabetes.
- Osteoporosis: Drinkers are more likely to suffer bone loss as they grow older.
- Pancreatitis: Those who consume alcohol have an increased risk for developing chronic pancreatitis.
- Performance deficits: Alcohol adversely affects attention span, vigilance, coordination, cognitive function and reaction time.
- Poor judgment, impulsivity and lack of vigilance: Drinkers are more inclined to suffer relationship damage, legal troubles, job loss, accidents and violent attacks than nondrinkers. One in every four cases of violent crime results from alcohol use, and alcohol also increases the risk for suicide.
- Pregnancy problems: Drinkers suffer increased risk of miscarriage and their babies may suffer from fetal alcohol syndrome and other developmental abnormalities.
- Sleep disruption: Alcohol consumption can cause sleep disturbances such as insomnia.
Further Information
- To learn which medications and medical conditions require avoiding alcohol, please visit Alcohol's Health Benefits and Risks.
- To read about the health-protective effects of moderate drinking, see Health Benefits of Alcohol.
- For information on cutting down or quitting drinking, please see How to Reduce or Stop Drinking.
This article is provided for informational purposes only and is not intended to represent medical advice. If you have any concerns regarding your health or whether alcohol could aggravate any pre-existing medical condition, you should consult your doctor.
References:
- Harvard School of Public Health. (2007). “Alcohol.” hsph.harvard.edu.
- Kovacs, Elizabeth, J., Ph.D., Messingham, Kelly A.N., Ph.D. (2002). Influence of alcohol and gender on immune response.” Alcohol Research & Health, Winter, 2002.
- MayoClinic.com. (2008). “Alcohol and your health: Weighing the pros and cons.”
- Morefocus group Inc. “Red Wine and Health, Red Wine in Moderation Can Have a Positive Effect on Health.” Morefocus.com.
- National Health and Medical Research Council (Australia). (2001). Australian Alcohol Guidelines: Health Risks and Benefits.
