Even moderate drinking can be risky. More than moderate can lead
to serious health problems. This web page explains some of the problems
that can be caused by drinking that you may not have considered.
If you are like many Americans, you may drink alcohol occasionally.
Or, like others, you may drink moderate amounts of alcohol on a more
regular basis. If you are a woman or someone over the age of 65, this
means you have no more than one drink per day; if you are a man, this
means you have no more than two drinks per day. Drinking at these levels
usually is not associated with health risks and may help prevent certain
forms of heart disease.
But did you know that even moderate drinking, under certain
circumstances, can be risky? If you drink at more than moderate levels,
you may be putting yourself at risk for serious problems with your
health as well as problems with family, friends, and coworkers.
What is a Drink?
A standard drink is:
- One 12-ounce bottle of beer* or wine cooler
- One 5-ounce glass of wine
- 1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits.
*Different beers have different alcohol content. Malt liquor has a
higher alcohol content than most other brewed beverages.
Drinking and Driving
It may surprise you to learn that you don’t need to drink much
alcohol before your driving ability is affected. For example, certain
driving skills can be impaired by blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) as
low as 0.02 percent. (The BAC refers to the amount of alcohol in the
blood.) A 160-pound man will have a BAC of about 0.04 percent 1 hour
after drinking two 12-ounce beers or two other standard drinks on an
empty stomach (see the box, “What Is a Drink?”). And the more
alcohol you drink, the more impaired your driving skills will be.
Although most States set the BAC limit for adults who drive after
drinking at 0.08 percent, driving skills are affected at much lower
levels.
Interactions With Medications
Drinking alcohol while taking certain medications can cause problems.
In fact, there are more than 150 medications that should not be mixed
with alcohol. For example, if you are taking antihistamines for a cold
or allergy and drink alcohol, the alcohol will increase the drowsiness
that the medicine alone can cause, making driving or operating machinery
even more dangerous. And if you are taking large doses of the painkiller
acetaminophen (Tylenol) and drinking alcohol, you are risking serious
liver damage. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before drinking any
amount of alcohol if you are taking any over-the-counter or prescription
medicines.
Social and Legal Problems
The more heavily you drink, the greater the potential for problems at
home, at work, with friends, and even with strangers. These problems may
include:
- Arguments with or separation from your spouse and other family
members;
- Strained relationships with coworkers;
- Absence from or lateness to work with increasing frequency;
- Loss of employment due to decreased productivity; and
- Committing or being the victim of violence.
Alcohol-Related Birth Defects
If you are pregnant or trying to get pregnant, you should not drink
alcohol. Drinking alcohol while you are pregnant can cause a range of
birth defects, and children exposed to alcohol before birth can have
lifelong learning and behavioral problems. The most serious problem that
can be caused by drinking during pregnancy is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS).
Children born with FAS have severe physical, mental, and behavioral
problems. Because scientists do not know exactly how much alcohol it
takes to cause alcohol-related birth defects, it is best not to drink
any alcohol during this time.
Long-Term Health Problems
Some problems, like those mentioned above, can occur after drinking
over a relatively short period of time. But other problems—such as
liver disease, heart disease, certain forms of cancer, and pancreatitis—often
develop more gradually and may become evident only after many years of
heavy drinking. Women may develop alcohol-related health problems sooner
than men, and from drinking less alcohol than men. Because alcohol
affects nearly every organ in the body, long-term heavy drinking
increases the risk for many serious health problems, some of which are
described below.
Alcohol-related liver disease. More than 2 million Americans
suffer from alcohol-related liver disease. Some drinkers develop
alcoholic hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver, as a result of heavy
drinking over a long period of time. Its symptoms include fever,
jaundice (abnormal yellowing of the skin, eyeballs, and urine), and
abdominal pain. Alcoholic hepatitis can cause death if drinking
continues. If drinking stops, the condition may be reversible. About 10
to 20 percent of heavy drinkers develop alcoholic cirrhosis, or scarring
of the liver. People with cirrhosis should not drink alcohol. Although
treatment for the complications of cirrhosis is available, a liver
transplant may be needed for someone with life-threatening cirrhosis.
Alcoholic cirrhosis can cause death if drinking continues. Cirrhosis is
not reversible, but if a person with cirrhosis stops drinking, the
chances of survival improve considerably. People with cirrhosis often
feel better, and liver function may improve, after they stop drinking.
About 4 million Americans are infected with hepatitis C virus (HCV),
which can cause liver cirrhosis and liver cancer. Some heavy drinkers
also have HCV infection. As a result, their livers may be damaged not
only by alcohol but by HCV-related problems as well. People with HCV
infection are more susceptible to alcohol-related liver damage and
should think carefully about the risks when considering whether to drink
alcohol.
Heart disease. Heavy drinking over a long period of time
increases the risk for heart disease, high blood pressure, and some
kinds of stroke.
Cancer. Long-term heavy drinking increases the risk of certain
forms of cancer, especially cancer of the esophagus, mouth, throat, and
larynx (voice box). Research suggests that, in some women, as little as
one drink per day can slightly raise the risk of breast cancer. Drinking
may also increase the risk for developing cancer of the colon and
rectum.
Pancreatitis. The pancreas helps regulate the body’s blood
sugar levels by producing insulin. The pancreas also has a role in
digesting the food we eat. Long-term heavy drinking can lead to
pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas. Acute pancreatitis can
cause severe abdominal pain and can be fatal. Chronic pancreatitis is
associated with chronic pain, diarrhea, and weight loss.
If you or someone you know has been drinking heavily, there is a risk
of developing serious health problems. Because some of these health
problems can be treated, it is important to see a doctor for help. Your
doctor will be able to advise you about your health and your drinking.
Click here for a full and
complete description of how the Narconon Arrowhead alcohol addiction
rehabilitation program works!
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