Two
new studies indicate that even very moderate alcohol intake can prove
detrimental to our health. In the first
study, researchers found that intake as low as a drink a day increases the risk
of dying from cancer, and, in the second, it was found that among those with
heart disease, very moderate intake increases risk for atrial fibrillation, an
irregular heart rhythm that can lead to stroke and/or heart failure.
In
the cancer study, researchers analyzed cancer mortality and alcohol intake data
in the U.S. from 2009-2010 and found that 1 in every 30 cancer deaths can be
attributed to alcohol consumption. While
heavy drinking increases cancer risk more than moderate intake, as much as 30%
of all alcohol-related cancer deaths are linked to drinking 1 ½ or less drinks
per day. Alcohol appears to be an especially important
risk factor for breast cancer where 1 in every 6 breast cancer deaths has been
attributed to the increased risk that comes from alcohol consumption.
Commenting
on the study findings, lead investigator Dr. David Nelson stated “Alcohol is a cancer-causing
agent that's in plain sight, but people just don't see it. Moderate drinking has been associated with
heart benefits, but, in the broader context of all the issues and all the
problems that alcohol is related to, alcohol causes 10 times as many deaths as
it prevents. There is really no safe
level of alcohol use.”
Previous
studies have shown drinking is a risk factor for cancers of the mouth, throat,
esophagus, liver, colon, rectum and, in women, breast cancer. It is believed alcohol acts as a chemical
irritant to sensitive cells, impeding their DNA repair as well as increasing
their vulnerability to other carcinogens such as tobacco smoke. In women, alcohol’s impact on estrogen levels
and estrogen receptors is believed to drive increases in breast cancer
rates.
Another
recent study found that moderate alcohol consumption increases risk of
experiencing atrial fibrillation (a-fib) among those with heart disease or
diabetes. Binge drinking has long been
known to increase episodes of a-fib but the effect that moderate alcohol
consumption has on rates of a-fib has been debated.
Several
studies have suggested that moderate alcohol intake - up to one drink a day for
women, up to two for men can help to prevent coronary heart disease - where
cholesterol-containing "plaque" builds up in the arteries. However, this latest study suggests that when
people already have heart issues, moderate drinking is actually tied to more
A-fib cases. For five years, the study tracked more than 30,000 older adults
who either had clogged arteries, a history of stroke, or diabetes with heart
health problems. Most had coronary heart disease. Researchers found that even after controlling
for age, weight, and cigarette smoking, compared to those who abstained, those
who were moderate alcohol consumers had a 14% increased risk for a-fib.
Commenting
on the findings, lead researcher Dr. Yan Liang wrote, “In general, experts say
that if you're already a moderate drinker it's probably okay to keep it up. But, for people with certain chronic health
problems, the new results may question that guidance. Our findings suggest that older individuals
with cardiovascular disease or diabetes should probably limit their alcoholic
beverages to no more than 1 drink per week".
What to do: If you already
abstain, continue to do so. If you already
have irregular heartbeat, a-fib, a history of stroke, congestive heart failure,
or advanced heart disease it is usually advised that you avoid alcohol. If you do not have advanced heart disease and
you choose to drink alcohol, do so in moderation. Even infrequent binge drinking has been shown
to detrimental. Moderate drinking means
having up to one drink a day for women and up to two for men. One drink is defined as 0.6-fluid ounces of
pure alcohol which translates into about 10-ounces of beer, 4-ounces of wine or
1 ¼ ounces of liquor. The antioxidants
in red wine, believed to confer some of its associated heart health benefits,
are also found in grapes, grape juice, blueberries, blackberries, mulberries,
peanuts, and pistachios.
Adapted from articles available at:
Sources:
Nelson DE, Jarman DW, Rehm
J, Greenfield TK, Rey G, Kerr WC, Miller P, Shield KD, Ye Y, Naimi TS.
Alcohol-attributable cancer deaths and years of potential life lost in the
United States. American Journal of Public Health, Feb. 14, 2013, doi:
10.2105/AJPH.2012.301199
Liang Y, Mente A, Yusuf S, Gao P,
Sleight P, Zhu J, Fagard R, Lonn E, Teo KK, Alcohol consumption and the risk of
incident atrial fibrillation among people with cardiovascular disease. CMAJ October 1, 2012, doi:10.1503/cmaj.120412 Available at http://www.cmaj.ca/content/early/2012/10/01/cmaj.120412.abstract
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