Drinking and Health Consequences

What You Don't Know Can Harm You

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 that you have no
more than one drink per day; if you are a man, this means that you have no
more than two drinks per day. Drinking at these levels usually is not associated
with health risks and can help to prevent certain forms of heart disease.

But did you know that even moderate drinking, under certain circumstances, is
not risk free? And that if you drink at more than moderate levels, you may be
putting yourself at risk for serious problems with your health and problems with
family, friends, and coworkers? This document explains some of the
consequences of drinking that you may not have considered.

What is a Drink?

12 ounces of regular beer (150 calories)
5 ounces of wine (100 calories)
1.5 ounces of 80-proof distilled spirits (100 calories)

(This limit is based on differences between the sexes in both weight and
metabolism. Beer ranges considerably in its alcohol content, with malt liquor
being higher in its 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 ability to drive becomes impaired. For example, certain driving skills--such
as steering a car while, at the same time, responding to changes in traffic--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 consuming 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 consume, the more impaired your driving
skills will be. Although most States set the BAC limit for adults who drive after
drinking at 0.08 to 0.10 percent, impairment of driving skills begins at much
lower levels.

Interactions With Medications
Alcohol interacts negatively with more than 150 medications. For example, if you
are taking antihistamines for a cold or allergy and drink alcohol, the alcohol will
increase the drowsiness that the medication alone can cause, making driving
or operating machinery even more hazardous. And if you are taking large doses
of the painkiller acetaminophen 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 medications.

Interpersonal 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 estrangement 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 a pregnant woman or one who is trying to conceive, you can prevent
alcohol-related birth defects by not drinking alcohol during your pregnancy.
Alcohol can cause a range of birth defects, the most serious being fetal alcohol
syndrome (FAS). Children born with alcohol-related birth defects can have
lifelong learning and behavior problems. Those born with FAS have physical
abnormalities, mental impairment, and behavior 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 long-term heavy drinking. Women
may develop alcohol-related health problems after consuming less alcohol
than men do over a shorter period of time. Because alcohol affects many
organs in the body, long-term heavy drinking puts you at risk for developing
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
long-term heavy drinking. 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, this condition
often is reversible. About 10 to 20 percent of heavy drinkers develop alcoholic
cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver. Alcoholic cirrhosis can cause death if drinking
continues. Although cirrhosis is not reversible, if drinking stops, one's chances
of survival improve considerably. Those with cirrhosis often feel better, and the
functioning of their liver may improve, if they stop drinking. Although liver
transplantation may be needed as a last resort, many people with cirrhosis who
abstain from alcohol may never need liver transplantation. In addition, treatment
for the complications of cirrhosis is available.

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. But long-term heavy drinking increases the risk for
high blood pressure, heart disease, and some kinds of stroke.

Cancer
Long-term heavy drinking increases the risk of developing certain forms of
cancer, especially cancer of the esophagus, mouth, throat, and voice box.
Women are at slightly increased risk of developing breast cancer if they drink
two or more drinks per day. Drinking may also increase the risk for developing
cancer of the colon and rectum.

Pancreatitis
The pancreas helps to 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. This
condition is associated with severe abdominal pain and weight loss and can
be fatal.

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
are both reversible and treatable, it is important to see your doctor for help. Your
doctor will be able to advise you about both your health and your drinking.

Published by:
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
National Institutes of Health

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