Alcohol
Should you or Shouldn't You?

Alcohol Supplies:

Alcohol has effects that are harmful in both the short and long term. It can impair judgment which can be lethal to yourself and others if you are at the wheel of a car.

Alcohol can also lead to dependency and many other serious health problems.
 

Is There any Good News?

Yes. But don't misconstrue this information and use it as an excuse to drink. Recent studies suggest that moderate drinking (1 to 2 drinks/day) is associated with a lower risk for heart disease in some individuals.

Consuming more than a moderate amount of alcohol has been shown to significantly increase the risk of stroke. So, more is definitely not better.

The National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute have issued guidelines for the prevention and treatment of hypertension that includes a recommendation for maintaining a healthy weight. This, in part, is achieved by limiting alcohol intake. The Department of Agriculture, which publishes the dietary guidelines for all Americans, defines moderate consumption as:

No matter what your age or sex, if you don't drink, don't start. Alcohol's potential for addiction and the harm it may cause in excessive amounts are too serious. There are safer and more effective ways to protect your heart, such as exercise and a heart healthy diet.
 

Aging increases alcohol sensitivity. This is primarily due to the fact that older tissues hold less water than younger ones, thus increasing the concentration of alcohol in the body. The result is a greater potential for intoxication, drug interactions and since effects with fewer drinks.

Women are more at risk to suffer the ill effects of alcohol than men are because they produce less of the enzyme that breaks down alcohol. Smaller body size can also increase alcohol's potency because there is less water available to dilute the alcohol.

Drug interactions: Alcohol can interact with at least half of the most commonly prescribed drugs, as well as many of the over-the-counter medications (including aspirin, ibuprofen, and acetaminophen).

• High blood pressure
• Stroke
• Heart Disease
• Certain Cancers
• Accidents
• Violence                     
• Suicides     
• Birth Defects
• Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
• Overall mortality

• Pregnant women or those trying to conceive. Major birth defects, including fetal alcohol syndrome , have been attributed to heavy drinking by pregnant mothers.

• While there is no conclusive evidence to support that an occasional  drink is harmful to the developing fetus, if any is consumed it should be done with much caution. As yet no safe level of alcohol intake during pregnancy has been able to be established. 

• Recovering alcoholics and others who cannot restrict their alcohol intake to moderate amounts.

• Anyone planning to drive. Most individuals retain some alcohol in the blood up to 2-3 hours after a single drink. Alcohol is the underlying cause of 40% of all automobile accidents and a large percentage of accidents that occur on the job.

• People taking prescription or over-the-counter medication. Alcohol may alter the effectiveness of some medications and frequently causes increased drowsiness. In addition, some medications may raise blood alcohol levels or increase the adverse effects of alcohol on the brain.