Many people drink alcohol when eating meals or socializing with friends and colleagues.
Although the health effects of moderate drinking are not clear, excessive alcohol drinking can be very harmful to your health.
Previous research has shown that drinking alcohol too much could lead to brain damage.
For example, one recent study found that alcohol drinking caused the imbalance in GABA and glutamate in the frontal lobe and harm people’s thinking skills.
It also influences the cerebellum, an area crucial to controlling movement, as well as a part of the brain vital for memory.
The team found that the damages existed even in people who had stopped drinking.
Another study found that alcohol drinking is linked to high blood pressure. It showed that drinking 7 to 13 drinks per week is linked to a higher risk of high blood pressure.
Other research found that alcohol drink could cause liver disease and harm heart rhythm.
For instance, one study showed that excessive alcohol consumption is a risk factor for atrial fibrillation.
So how much alcohol is too much?
According to NIH experts, a standard drink in the United States is any drink that contains about 0.6 fluid ounces or 14 grams of pure alcohol.
For different types of beer, wine, or malt liquor, the alcohol content can vary greatly.
If you want to know the alcohol content of a canned or bottled beverage, you can start by checking the label or search online for a reliable source of information.
For men, heavy drinking means having more than 4 drinks on any day or 14 drinks per week.
For women, heavy drinking having more than 3 drinks on any day or 7 drinks per week.
Research shows that about 1 in 4 people who exceed these limits already has alcohol use disorder. Other people may have high risks of the disease.
Alcohol use disorder is a medical condition that doctors can diagnose when a patient’s drinking causes distress or harm. About 17 million people have alcohol use disorder in the U.S.
Drinking too much can bring many health risks. For example, you have higher chances of being injured or even killed.
You may also have greater risks of liver disease, heart disease, depression, stroke, and stomach bleeding, as well as cancers of breasts, liver, colon, oral cavity and larynx.
For women, drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause brain damage and other serious problems in the baby.
To reduce health risks related to alcohol drinking, you should stay within the limits provided in the Dietary Guidelines for Americans.
You also need to take steps necessary to avoid putting yourself or others at risk for harm, such as motor vehicle crashes, falls, burns, drownings, suicides, homicides, sexual assaults, and transfers of sexually transmitted infections.
You can also try to quit drinking altogether.
Copyright © 2019 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
