18/05/2024
Alcohol Use and Your Health
KEY POINTS AS FOLLOWS:
Excessive alcohol use can have immediate and long-term effects.
Excessive drinking includes binge drinking, heavy drinking, and any drinking during pregnancy or by people younger than 21.
Drinking less is better for your health than drinking more.
You can lower your health risks by drinking less or choosing not to drink.
Young man and woman talking on a bridge at a park.
Why it's important
Your liver can only process small amounts of alcohol.
The rest of the alcohol can harm your liver and other organs as it moves through the body.
Using alcohol excessively on occasion or over time can have immediate and long-term health risks.
By drinking less alcohol, you can improve your health and well-being.
Deaths from excessive alcohol use
About 178,000 people die from excessive alcohol use each year in the United States.1
Understanding alcohol use
Excessive alcohol use
Excessive alcohol use is a term used to describe four ways that people drink alcohol that can negatively impact health. Excessive drinking can also be deadly.
Excessive alcohol use includes:
Binge drinking—Four or more drinks for women, or five or more drinks for men during an occasion.
Heavy drinking—Eight or more drinks for women, or 15 or more drinks for men during a week.
Underage drinking—any alcohol use by people younger than 21.
Drinking while pregnant—any alcohol use during pregnancy.
Moderate alcohol use
Moderate drinking is having one drink or less in a day for women, or two drinks or less in a day for men.
Keep in mind
Drinking less is better for health than drinking more. A beverage that you drink might have more than one standard drink of alcohol in it.
Effects of short-term alcohol use
Drinking excessively on an occasion can lead to these harmful health effects:
Injuries—motor vehicle crashes, falls, drownings, and burns.
Violence—homicide, su***de, s*xual violence, and intimate partner violence.
Alcohol poisoning—high blood alcohol levels that affect body functions like breathing and heart rate.
Overdose—from alcohol use with other drugs, like opioids.
Sexually transmitted infections or unplanned pregnancy—alcohol use can lead to s*x without protection, which can cause these conditions.
Miscarriage, stillbirth, or fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD)—from any alcohol use during pregnancy.
Effects of long-term alcohol use
Over time, drinking alcohol can have these effects:
Cancer
Text that says, "Alcohol increases the risk of several types of cancer: throat cancer, colon cancer, breast cancer (in women), liver cancer, and more..."
Drinking alcohol increases the risk of several types of cancer.
Drinking any alcoholic beverages, including red and white wine, beer, and liquor, is linked with cancer.
The risk of some cancers increases with any amount of alcohol use.2 This includes breast cancer (in women).2A
More than 20,000 people die from alcohol-related cancers each year in the United States.3
Other chronic diseases
Excessive alcohol use can lead to:
High blood pressure.
Heart disease.
Liver disease.
Stroke.
Alcohol use disorder—this affects both physical and mental health.B
Digestive problems.
Weaker immune system—increasing your chances of getting sick.
Social and wellness issues
Mental health conditions, including depression and anxiety.
Learning problems, and issues at school or work.
Memory problems, including dementia.
Relationship problems with family and friends.
Prevention
You can take steps to lower your risk of alcohol-related harms.
The less alcohol you drink, the lower your risk for these health effects, including several types of cancer.
Check your drinking
Take a few minutes to check your drinking. You will get personalized feedback that can help you decide if you want to drink less or never at all. GALATIANS 5.
Call now to connect with business.
