Alcohol use: Weighing risks and benefits

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Surprisingly little is known about the dangers and benefits of moderate alcohol use in healthy adults. Almost all lifestyle research, such as diet, exercise, caffeine, and alcohol, rely on patient memory and honest reporting of one's behaviors over a long period of time. These studies can show that two items are connected, but they do not necessarily mean that one causes the other. Adults who are in good health can participate in more social activities and consume moderate amounts of alcohol, but the alcohol has no effect on their health.

Any potential benefits of alcohol are minor and may not apply to all people. Indeed, the most recent dietary guidelines state unequivocally that no one should begin or increase their alcohol consumption solely for the sake of potential health benefits. For many people, the potential benefits do not outweigh the risks, and abstaining from alcohol is the best course of action.

On the other hand, if you're a light to moderate drinker who is healthy, you should be able to continue drinking alcohol as long as you do so responsibly.

Here's a closer look at the relationship between alcohol and your health.

Defining moderate

Moderate alcohol consumption for healthy adults is generally defined as one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men.

One-drink examples include:

• 12 fluid ounces of beer (355 milliliters)

• 5 fluid ounces wine (148 milliliters)

• 1.5 fluid ounces distilled spirits (80 proof) (44 milliliters)

Pros and cons of moderate alcohol use

Moderate alcohol consumption may have some health benefits, including:

• Lowering your chances of developing and dying from heart disease

• Possibly lowering your risk of having an ischemic stroke (when the arteries to your brain become narrowed or blocked, causing severely reduced blood flow)

• Possibly lowering your diabetes risk

Eating a healthy diet and being physically active, on the other hand, have far greater health benefits and have received far more attention.

Keep in mind that even moderate alcohol consumption is not without risk. Even light drinkers (those who have no more than one drink per day), for example, have a slight but real increased risk of certain cancers, such as esophageal cancer. And driving while intoxicated is never a good idea.

Risks of heavy alcohol use

While moderate alcohol consumption may provide some health benefits, heavy drinking, including binge drinking, does not.

Heavy or high-risk drinking is defined as having more than three drinks on any given day or having more than seven drinks per week for women and men over the age of 65, and having more than four drinks on any given day or having more than 14 drinks per week for men 65 and younger.

Binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks consumed in less than two hours for women and five or more drinks consumed in less than two hours for men.

Excessive drinking can put you at risk for a variety of serious health issues, including:

Breast cancer, as well as cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus, and liver

Pancreatitis is a disease of the pancreas.

If you already have cardiovascular disease, you could die suddenly.

Alcoholism causes heart muscle damage (alcoholic cardiomyopathy), which leads to heart failure.

• A stroke is a type of stroke.

• Blood pressure that is too high

• The disease of the liver

• Suicide is a serious issue.

• Serious injury or death as a result of an unintentional hazard

• An unborn child's brain damage and other issues

• Withdrawal symptoms from alcohol

When to avoid alcohol

In some cases, the risks of alcohol may outweigh the potential health benefits. For example, consult your doctor about drinking if you:

• You're pregnant or trying to conceive.

• You have a history of alcoholism or addiction, or you have a strong family history of alcoholism.

• You've suffered a hemorrhagic stroke (when a blood vessel in your brain leaks or ruptures)

• You suffer from liver or pancreatic disease.

• You have heart failure or have been told that your heart is weak.

• You use prescription or over-the-counter medications that have the potential to interact with alcohol.

Deciding about drinking

Don't start drinking alcohol if you don't already because of the potential health benefits. However, if you drink in moderation and are healthy, you should be able to continue as long as you drink responsibly. Check with your doctor to see what's best for your health and safety.

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