Diseases

The United States National Toxicology Program (NTP) found that studies indicate that the risk of cancer related to alcohol consumption is most pronounced among smokers and at the highest levels of consumption.

On the other hand, some studies have suggested that moderate alcohol consumption can be linked to a lower risk of bladder, kidney, ovarian and prostate cancer, as well as non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Still, we do not encourage people to drink alcohol beverages for any health benefits they may provide.

People with diabetes must be extremely careful with alcohol. Alcohol consumption can cause blood sugar to rise or fall depending on how much you drink and other factors. For some diabetics, excessive consumption can cause blood sugar to drop dangerously low.

The American Diabetes Association suggests that light-to-moderate alcohol consumption (not more than two drinks per day for men and not more than one drink per day for women) is acceptable for some diabetics – providing their doctor agrees. It recommends that diabetics behave cautiously by checking their blood glucose before having an alcohol drink and by eating, preferably carbohydrates, beforehand.

Some diabetics should not drink at all because alcohol can make their condition worse. For example, diabetics with high levels of triglycerides (a certain type of fat in the blood) shouldn't drink alcohol because it can affect the liver's ability to metabolise glucose, which in turn may increase blood triglyceride levels. Drinking alcohol may prevent diabetes medication from working properly which may contribute to dangerously unstable blood sugar levels.

Some studies have reported that light-to-moderate alcohol consumption can have a mild protective effect against the development of type 2 diabetes for both men and women. On the other hand, other studies suggest that, for some people with type 2 diabetes, even moderate alcohol intake may induce low blood sugar levels.

Medical research has reported that moderate alcohol consumption may benefit the heart and blood vessels, in part, because it elevates high-density lipoproteins (also known as 'HDL' or 'good cholesterol') in the blood and has other positive effects on the blood and blood vessels.

Robust scientific evidence on the beneficial effects of moderate alcohol consumption on cardiovascular health has accumulated over the past 30 years and has been repeated in studies conducted in at least 25 countries. These studies report that, for some individuals, moderate drinking may be a protective factor against coronary heart disease. The evidence also suggests that the strongest association is seen where drinking is moderate and regular, whether daily or on most days of the week.

Prolonged heavy drinking, however, has been associated with haemorrhagic stroke, congestive heart failure and atrial fibrillation.

The liver breaks down alcohol so that it can be eliminated from the body. Prolonged, heavy alcohol consumption can damage the liver and this will prevent it from processing alcohol properly.

Liver diseases associated with alcohol include fatty liver (also known as steatosis), alcohol hepatitis and liver cirrhosis. While some of the symptoms of these diseases are minimal, other consequences can be very serious, including severe jaundice, blood clotting problems and, possibly, death. Prolonged, heavy alcohol consumption is also one of the factors associated with hepatocellular carcinoma, a primary cancer of the liver.

Liver disease that's associated with alcohol consumption is normally seen in alcoholics or those who've had a prolonged history of alcohol abuse. The risk of developing liver disease rises as the duration of alcohol use and the amount of alcohol consumed increases.

Stroke can be caused either by a clot obstructing the flow of blood to the brain (ischaemic stroke) or by a blood vessel rupturing and preventing blood flow to the brain (haemorrhagic). The most common type of stroke, ischaemic, accounts for almost 80% of all strokes.

The relationship between alcohol consumption and stroke is complex. Heavy consumption is associated with an increased risk for stroke, while there is a possible decreased risk associated with light-to-moderate consumption.

If you have any questions about how drinking might affect your risk of stroke, contact your doctor. However, you shouldn't drink alcohol for its health benefits – for good health, you should look to diet, exercise and other lifestyle factors.