Alcohol: Health Benefits and Risks

All About Alcohol: Health Benefits, Risks and Disadvantage

Moderate drinking is defined as consuming up to one alcohol drink a day for women and up to two alcohol drinks a day for men. The definition of a "standard" alcoholic drink depends on the alcohol content of the beverage. One alcoholic drink to be 5oz of wine, 12oz of beer or 1.5oz of spirits. Examples of one drink include:

·       Beer: 355 ml

·       Wine: 148 ml

·       Distilled spirits: 44 ml

Moderate alcohol use may be of most benefit if you're an older adult or if you have existing risk factors for heart disease. If you're a middle-aged or younger adult, some evidence shows that even moderate alcohol use may cause more harm than good.

1.                Moderate alcohol use may protect against stroke, heart attack, heart disease, sudden cardiovascular death and other cardiovascular conditions, as well as improve overall mortality. Drinking a glass of wine - and possibly other alcoholic beverages - can benefit the heart by increasing our levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL), or "good" cholesterol. The strongest evidence is in favor of wine, but some evidence recently showed beer and other types of alcohol may provide the same benefits related to increasing good cholesterol.

2.                Moderate alcohol consumption leads increased insulin sensitivity, which may lower diabetes risk. Moderate drinkers were 30% less likely to develop type 2 diabetes, compared with heavy drinkers and nondrinkers.

3.                Older individuals who engaged in light or moderate drinking had higher episodic memory - the ability to remember events. They also had a larger volume in the hippocampus - a brain region that plays an important role in memory. Moderate alcohol consumption improved participants' memory and thinking skills, particularly for women and those aged 70 and older.

4.                Moderate drinking might actually protect against erectile dysfunction in the same way that drinking red wine might benefit heart disease.  Drinking less than four or two drinks per day for men and women respectively could reduce the risk of death by 18 percent.

5.                Moderate alcohol consumption led to a decrease in common cold cases for nonsmokers.

6.                It Can Decrease Chances of Developing Dementia

7.                It Can Reduce the Risk of Gallstones

8.                Alcohol in moderate amounts is effective in reducing stress.

9.                Low and moderate doses of alcohol have been reported to increase overall affective expression, happiness, euphoria, conviviality and pleasant and carefree feelings. Tension, depression and self-consciousness have been reported to decrease with equal doses.

10.           Low alcohol doses have been found to improve certain types of cognitive performance. Included here are problem-solving and short-term memory.

11.           Heavy drinkers and abstainers have higher rates of clinical depression than do regular moderate drinkers.

12.           Alcohol in low and moderate doses has been effective in the treatment of geropsychiatric problems.

Expanding our understanding of the relationship between moderate alcohol consumption and potential health benefits remains a challenge, and although there are positive effects, alcohol may not benefit everyone who drinks moderately. The health benefits associated with moderate alcohol consumption may be overestimated.

When to avoid alcohol use

In certain situations, the risks of alcohol use may outweigh the possible health benefits. Use alcohol only with great care and after consulting your doctor if:

1.                You're pregnant or trying to become pregnant

2.                You've been diagnosed with alcoholism or alcohol abuse, or you have a strong family history of alcoholism

3.                You have liver or pancreatic disease

4.                You have heart failure or you've been told you have a weak heart

5.                You take prescription or over-the-counter medications that can interact with alcohol

6.                You've had a hemorrhagic stroke (when a blood vessel in your brain leaks or ruptures)

7.                Keep in mind that even moderate use isn't risk-free. For example, drinking and driving is never a good idea.

The risks of heavy alcohol use

Heavy drinking is defined as more than three drinks on any day or more than seven drinks a week for women and for men older than age 65, and more than four drinks on any day or more than 14 drinks a week for men age 65 and younger. Binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks within two hours for women and five or more drinks within two hours for men.

While moderate alcohol use may offer some health benefits, heavy drinking — including binge drinking — has no health benefits. Excessive drinking can increase your risk of serious health problems, including:

1.                Certain cancers, including breast cancer and cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx and esophagus

2.                Pancreatitis

3.                Sudden death if you already have cardiovascular disease

4.                Heart muscle damage (alcoholic cardiomyopathy) leading to heart failure

5.                Stroke

6.                High blood pressure

7.                Liver disease

8.                Suicide

9.                Accidental serious injury or death

10.           Brain damage and other problems in an unborn child

11.           Alcohol withdrawal syndrome