Drinking Alcohol Can Raise Your Risk of These 20 Health Conditions
Why this matters: health reporting relevant to everyday decisions and well-being.
Research shows that any amount of drinking can increase your health risks. Image Credit: Catherine Falls Commercial/Getty Images. A recent study found an association between alcohol consumption and 20 different health outcomes. The findings show that any amount of alcohol may increase the risk for various cancers. The researchers noted that the effects of alcohol can vary based on factors like sex, age, drinking patterns, and other behavioral risk factors. The study found that there is no evidence to support sex-specific thresholds on alcohol guidelines. It’s well-established that consuming alcohol can have negative effects on overall health. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states that moderate drinking may have health risks, while the World Health Organization (WHO) warns that no amount of alcohol is safe. A new study found that any alcohol consumption can raise the risk for major cancers, including colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer. The findings, published on June 1 in Nature Health, show associations between alcohol use and several additional health outcomes, including other forms of cancer. The researchers noted that while there are limitations to the study, the results present a clearer picture of the risks associated with alcohol consumption to help inform personalized decisions about alcohol use. “This is not surprising and illustrates the many mechanisms through which alcohol, especially when consumed in large amounts, is toxic to our bodies,” said Ketan Thanki, MD, board certified colorectal surgeon with the MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Medical Center in Long Beach, CA. Thanki wasn’t involved in the study. Low-to-moderate alcohol use linked to health risks Even moderate alcohol consumption may increase the risk for certain health conditions, especially cancers. The study analyzed 843 cohort and case-control studies published through 2023 using the Burden of Proof meta-analytic framewo