A recent study published in the American Journal of Public Health shows that alcohol can be blamed for nearly 20,000 deaths a year, and it’s not just the heavy drinkers.
People that have three or more drinks a day accounted for most of the deaths from seven kinds of cancer, up to 60 percent, but consuming just 1.5 drinks a day — or less — was associated with up to 35 percent of those cancer deaths, suggesting that any alcohol use carries some risk.
Breast cancer accounted for most alcohol-related cancer deaths in women, about 15 percent of all breast cancer deaths, or some 6,000 cases a year, the study found. In men, cancers of the mouth and throat were the most common cause of alcohol-related cancer deaths, also with about 6,000 cases a year.
If you are a woman and if you are not a drinker, don’t start drinking. As mentioned above, the risk of developing breast cancer rises with increased alcohol use. If you are at high risk for breast cancer, consider whether you should stop drinking. In addition, women develop alcohol-related health problems, like cirrhosis of the liver, faster than men who drink exactly the same amount of alcohol.
What about the health benefits we’ve heard about over the years? Several studies have suggested that those who imbibe “moderately’’ — up to one drink a day for women, up to two for men — may boost their heart health, cut cholesterol, and avoid diabetes.
Researchers suggest that studies that show benefits from moderate alcohol use are potentially flawed because they compare non-drinkers and drinkers, who may be healthy — or not — for other reasons than alcohol use. Non-drinkers may abstain because of existing health problems, for instance, while moderate drinkers might have other factors, such as education, wealth and lifestyle choices that boost their health independent of alcohol.
The bottom line, no one should start drinking because of any perceived health benefits of alcohol, and more people should be aware of the risks, including cancer, the experts agreed.