Alcohol is a commonly used substance that has profound affects on physical, mental, and social health when abused. Current research, however, points out that alcohol may also reduce the risk for heart disease in people over the age of 50 who have major risk factors.
Many people wonder if alcohol should be used or avoided. But that is a personal decision. When you make a decision regarding alcohol use, be sure to consider some of the potential hazards of drinking as well.
Adverse Health Affects
Regular alcohol use increases the risk for several health problems. Alcohol:
- Damages liver cells and, if used often enough and long enough, causes cirrhosis or liver disease.
- Damages pancreatic cells and can cause pancreatitis, a serious disease.
- Causes many cancers including cancer of the liver, mouth, throat, larynx, breast, and esophagus.
- Increases the risk of death from accidents, especially motor vehicle accidents, drowning, fires, homicide, and suicide.
- Damages the fetus during pregnancy.
- Causes many long-term, common health problems including malnutrition, stomach ailments, digestive problems, skin disorders, sexual impotence, obesity, high blood pressure, heart damage, brain damage, memory loss, and psychosocial disorders.
- Affects judgment relating to sexual behavior and increases the risk of sexually transmitted diseases including HIV or AIDS.
The social consequences of drinking are often as damaging as the direct medical consequences. Drinkers have higher rates of divorce, depression, suicide, domestic violence, unemployment, and poverty. An estimated 27 million American children are at risk for abnormal psychological development due to the abuse of alcohol by their parent.
According to current estimates, more than 75,000 Americans die prematurely each year due to alcohol use. An estimated 14 million Americans abuse or are dependent on alcohol. That's one in 13 adults. One in ten adult males is a "heavy drinker" who is at higher risk for alcohol-related problems.
For these reasons, many people have decided that the safest course is not to drink. For those who choose to drink, national guidelines for alcohol use state, "If you choose to drink alcoholic beverages, do so in moderation, with meals, and when consumption does not put you or others at risk."
Drinking in moderation means consuming no more than 1 drink per day if you are a woman, or 2 drinks per day if you are a man. Drinking in moderation also means not drinking every day. One drink is considered to be:
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One Drink is Defined As:
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Amount
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One can or bottle of beer
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12 oz.
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A glass of wine
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4-5 oz.
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A shot of liquor/mixed drink
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1-1.5 oz.
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One mixed drink
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1-1.5 oz. spirits or liquor
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According to the national guidelines, some people should not drink at all. These include:
- Women who are pregnant, are trying to get pregnant, or who might be pregnant.
- People who will be driving motorized vehicles (including boats) or operating machinery.
- People under the legal drinking age (in the United States, age 21).
- People taking prescription or over-the-counter medicines that react with alcohol (read labels or ask your doctor or pharmacist).
- People who cannot limit their intake to moderate levels.
If you are over age 50 and concerned about heart health, there are a number of ways to reduce risk of cardiovascular disease without drinking: exercise regularly, eat well (limit animal fats and choose healthy fats: unhydrogenated vegetable oils such as Canola, olive, or soy, and nuts and nut butters), limit calories to maintain a healthy weight, avoid smoking, eat whole grain breads and cereals including oat fiber, drink grape juice, and take a baby aspirin daily (ask your doctor first).
If you or someone you know has trouble with alcohol, contact your doctor, dependency counselor, community health center, hospital, or treatment facility and ask for help. An alcohol dependency is a serious health problem that needs professional help.
Sustained alcohol use can damage the brain, accelerate the aging processes, and interfere with the capacity to reason and solve the problems of everyday living. |
