Just one drink a day may increase your risk of liver damage and cancer

• A new federal report shows that one drink a day may increase your risk of liver damage and some cancers.
• The report follows the U.S. Surgeon General's recommendations for safe alcohol consumption, which emphasizes the health risks of drinking in moderation.
• Experts generally agree that the less you drink, the lower your risk of disease and other health problems.
• Safe alcohol consumption varies from person to person depending on age, genetic makeup, health history, and general lifestyle habits.

A new federal report by a group within the Department of Health and Human Services has found that drinking one alcoholic drink a day can increase the risk of adverse health effects such as liver cirrhosis and several types of cancer.

According to the Surgeon General's recommendations: moderate alcohol intake It may increase the risk of at least seven types of cancer. Dr Murthy added that alcoholic beverages, including beer and wine, should include warning labels about potential cancer risks. Any changes would require parliamentary approval.

These reports have left many people wondering how much alcohol they can consume without developing serious health problems.

Most experts generally agree that the less you drink, the lower your risk of negative health effects. Still, the amount of alcohol considered safe varies from person to person depending on age, medical history, genetic makeup, and general lifestyle habits.

Here's what you need to know about safe drinking.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Recommended Men are limited to 2 drinks per day and women are limited to 1 drink per day. These are the current guidelines for moderate drinking.

However, some experts question whether this standard is outdated.

Dr. Aashish DidwaniaPrimary Care Physician and Medical Educator at Northwestern University, Illinois; said NPR He thinks those recommended levels should change.

moreover, August 2024 Survey It has been reported that people who drink moderate amounts of alcohol have an increased risk of cancer.

In contrast, a committee of the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine A report has been published Last month, we showed that moderate drinking may reduce the risk of death from heart disease and death from all causes. However, the report also linked moderate alcohol consumption to an increased risk of breast cancer.

kristen kirkpatrickOne drink a day is the equivalent of seven drinks a week, said Dr. Schulz, a registered dietitian in the health and preventive medicine division of the Cleveland Clinic and president of KAK Consulting. That amount of alcohol, she told Healthline, lead to increased risk Heart disease, brain atrophy, increased blood pressure, etc.

Kirkpatrick noted that regular alcohol consumption can also lead to weight gain, which can cause a person to gain weight. risk Obesity, cancer, heart disease, etc. She also pointed out that the definition of “drink” can vary.

“Many people actual amount (Wine is 5 ounces, beer is 12 ounces, and spirits are 1.5 ounces.) So for many people, when they say “drink,” it could be 1.5 or 2 drinks, and the more you drink, the more risk you have. may increase. ” she said.

Wael Herb, MarylandHematologists and medical oncologists at MemorialCare Cancer Institute at Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, California, said there are risks to drinking even small amounts every day.

“Even one drink a day can pose health risks, including an increased risk of certain cancers, including breast cancer, esophageal cancer, and cancer. colorectal cancer” Herb told Healthline.

“Alcohol has small but measurable effects on liver health and brain function over time. For people with underlying health conditions, even moderate alcohol consumption can worsen the risk of conditions such as high blood pressure and high blood pressure.” There is. Disturbed sleep patterns. “Recent research suggests that no amount of alcohol is completely risk-free,” he said.

Dr. Chen Han ChenA cardiologist and medical director of the Structural Heart Program at MemorialCare Saddleback Medical Center in Laguna Hills, Calif., agreed that one drink a day could be detrimental to your health. .

“In large-scale studies, Found Even just one drink a day is associated with an increased risk of developing various types of cancer. cardiovascular diseaseand the overall risk of premature death increases,” he told Healthline.

Keith Humphriesa professor of psychiatry and behavioral sciences at Stanford University in California, agreed. She told Healthline that drinking one drink a day increases the risk of certain cancers, especially for women.

Experts agree that drinking one type of alcoholic beverage two or three times a week is better than drinking alcohol every day.

However, minimizing drinking to this level may still pose health risks for some people.

“Having one or two drinks a week is less risky than drinking every day,” Herb says. “But even this amount can cause cumulative harm over time, such as a small increase in cancer risk. This is especially true for individuals with genetic predispositions and other risk factors. That applies.”

Chen advised people to limit their drinking as much as possible. “Drinking fewer than two drinks a week would be in the lowest risk category, unless you don't drink at all,” he said.

Mr Humphries said drinking a few drinks a week was likely to pose “little risk”.

binge drinking It is defined as the amount of alcohol required to raise a person's blood alcohol concentration level to 0.08, which is the legal definition of intoxication in most states.

The amount of alcohol needed to reach that level varies depending on the person, what they drink, and how quickly they drink it.

Typically, you can reach this level by drinking 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of hard liquor, such as whiskey, vodka, rum, or gin.

For adult men, a binge drinking episode is considered five drinks within a two-hour period. For women, it's 4 drinks in the same amount of time.

can of binge drinking lead short-term effects, such as alcohol poisoning; depressiondangerous driving, anxiety. It can also cause long-term health effects, including: liver disease If you do it regularly.

With all this in mind, experts say it is unwise for a person to consume their allotted 3 or 4 drinks per week in one environment.

Kirkpatrick said there are many dangers associated with excessive drinking.

“According to some studies, drinking multiple drinks at once can be more harmful,” she said. “One study We found that even moderate drinkers who drank to excess were more likely to develop alcohol problems. If you drink more than 5 drinks at a time, increase There is a risk of increased mortality. ”

“In general, it's better to have one drink a day rather than several drinks at a time during the week. This will minimize the negative effects of binge drinking,” Chen added.

“Consuming several drinks at a time (binge drinking) not only carries immediate risks such as alcohol poisoning, accidents, and injuries, but also long-term effects on heart and brain health,” says Herb. said. “Ideally, alcohol consumption should be completely minimized, or at least limited to infrequent and moderate occasions.”

Mr Humphries said there were other issues to consider.

“Due to the inherent risks of drunkenness (such as increased risk of accidents), the lower the amount of alcohol you drink each day, the lower your risk is likely to be,” he said.

With all this information and opinion, it may seem difficult to calculate how much alcohol is safe to drink.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism state Some people should not drink alcohol at all, such as those who are pregnant, take certain medications, or have medical conditions such as liver disease. diabetesabnormal heart rhythm.

Despite the known risks, there are studies that suggest alcohol consumption, especially in moderation. red winemay have health benefits.

a December 2024 Survey reported that pairing a small to moderate amount of wine with a Mediterranean diet may reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease.

Similarly, the aforementioned National Academy report They conclude that people who drink alcohol in moderation have a lower risk of certain cardiovascular health problems than people who don't drink at all.

The experts are pointed out People who drink in moderation are likely to have better lifestyle habits, including: healthy eating And regular exercise may factor into your overall health. Additionally, people who don't drink alcohol at all may have previously had problems with: misuse of alcohol It affected their long-term health.

In any case, as a general rule of thumb when it comes to alcohol intake, less is generally better. “I would advise people to drink as little as possible, and if possible, not to drink at all,” Chen said.

“Even if you consider yourself a 'light' or 'moderate' drinker, drinking less is likely one of the best things you can do to improve your health. ” Kirkpatrick added.

Mr Humphries pointed out that alcohol is essentially a drug and that should be taken into account when deciding how much to drink.

“Take seriously that alcohol is a risky drug. Take an honest look at how it is affecting your life and seek help if you need it to cut back or quit.” please,” he said.

Herb recommends prioritizing other healthy lifestyle habits. “It's important to focus on a lifestyle that includes healthy nutrition. regular physical activityand stress managementAll of these are beneficial to your overall health without the risks associated with alcohol,” he said.

A new federal report shows that one drink a day is associated with negative health effects, and a recent report from the U.S. Surgeon General highlights the cancer risks associated with moderate alcohol consumption. I am. These findings have led many people to question whether drinking alcohol is safe at all.

The CDC recommends that men have no more than two drinks of alcohol per day, and women no more than one drink. Some experts say these guidelines should be revised in light of new evidence, and most agree that binge drinking is a health problem.

The less you drink, the better your life will be. Limiting alcohol intake to a few drinks a week or avoiding it completely seems to be the safest recommendation.