At the same time the charity Alcohol Concern predicted the number of admissions would reach 1. Last year, a study in The Lancet concluded that alcohol is more harmful than heroin or crack when the overall dangers to the individual and society are considered. The study by the Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs also ranked alcohol as three times more harmful than cocaine or tobacco because it is so widely used. So how much alcohol is too much? What can we safely drink? The government guidelines on drinking are being reviewed at present.
They currently say that a women should not drink more than two to three units of alcohol per day and a man three to four units a day. But Paul Wallace, a GP and chief medical adviser of Drinkaware, says people are just not aware of the alcohol content of a large glass of wine.
Katherine Brown, head of research at the Institute of Alcohol Studies, says the current guidelines and how they are communicated may be giving the public misleading information.
Rather, we need to explain that there are risks associated with alcohol consumption, and that the less you drink the lower your risk is of developing health problems. Dr Wallace wants the government to do a better job on the message it sends out by explaining the alcohol guidelines in units per week, rather than per day - no more than 21 units for men, 14 units for women per week. Dr Sheron agrees: "There is no such thing as a safe level, but the government has got to draw a line somewhere.
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On the one hand, moderate amounts have been linked to health benefits. On the other, it is addictive and highly toxic — especially when you drink too much. This article discusses how alcohol affects your health.
Share on Pinterest. What Is Alcohol? The main psychoactive ingredient in alcoholic beverages is ethanol. Liver diseases caused by alcohol consumption are collectively known as alcoholic liver diseases. Summary Alcohol is metabolized by the liver, and frequent intake can lead to increased fat inside liver cells.
Alcohol abuse can lead to cirrhosis, a very serious condition. Impact on Your Brain. Excessive alcohol consumption can have numerous adverse effects on your brain.
Summary While alcohol intoxication is only temporary, chronic alcohol abuse can impair brain function permanently. However, moderate drinking may have benefits for brain health — especially among older adults.
Summary Alcohol abuse and depression are linked. People may start abusing alcohol due to depression or become depressed by abusing alcohol. Body Weight. Obesity is a serious health concern. Alcohol is the second most calorie-rich nutrient after fat — packing about 7 calories per gram.
It seems that drinking habits and preferences may play a role. Summary The evidence on alcohol and weight gain is mixed.
Heavy drinking and beer are linked to increased weight gain, while moderate drinking and wine are linked to reduced weight gain or even weight loss. Heart Health. Heart disease is the leading cause of death in modern society.
It is a broad category of diseases, the most common of which are heart attacks and strokes. The relationship between alcohol and heart disease is complex and depends on several factors. There are several possible reasons for the beneficial effects of drinking moderately. Decrease blood pressure, a major risk factor for heart disease Lower your blood concentration of fibrinogen, a substance that contributes to blood clots Cut the risk of diabetes, another major risk factor for heart disease Reduce stress and anxiety temporarily 41 , Summary While moderate alcohol consumption may reduce your risk of heart disease, heavy drinking may increase it.
The study, published in the journal The Lancet, compared the health and drinking habits of around , current drinkers in 19 countries worldwide and controlled for age, smoking, history of diabetes, level of education and occupation. The upper safe limit of drinking was about five drinks per week g of pure alcohol, However, drinking above this limit was linked with lower life expectancy.
For example, having 10 or more drinks per week was linked with one to two years shorter life expectancy. Having 18 drinks or more per week was linked with four to five years shorter life expectancy. This equates to around six pints of beer or six glasses of wine a week. The researchers also looked at the association between alcohol consumption and different types of cardiovascular disease. Alcohol consumption was associated with a higher risk of stroke, heart failure, fatal aortic aneurysms, fatal hypertensive disease and heart failure and there were no clear thresholds where drinking less did not have a benefit.
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