Alcohol Abuse
Facts about Alcohol Abuse
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. This booklet explains some of the problems that can be
caused by drinking that you may not have considered.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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. Moderate drinking can have beneficial effects on the heart, especially
among those at greatest risk for heart attacks, such as men over the age of
45 and women after menopause. However, 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.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), National Institutes
of Health, supports about 90 percent of the Nation's research on alcohol
use and its related consequences. Today, alcohol researchers are working on
the cutting edge of medical science to answer questions such as:
Who is at greatest risk for developing alcohol problems?
What are the effects of binge drinking, particularly among young people?
When does alcohol use increase the risk of violent behavior?
Why are women more vulnerable to alcohol's effects?
Each new research discovery leads us to better ways to prevent and treat the
alcohol-related problems that harm individuals, families, and society.
Source: The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) www.niaaa.nih.gov
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