Alcohol & Health
Drinking moderate amounts of alcohol daily, such as two 12-ounce beers or two 5-ounce glasses of wine, offers some health benefits, especially for the heart. It can reduce your risk of developing heart disease and peripheral vascular disease, lowers your risk of developing gallstones, and possibly reduces your risk of stroke and diabetes. Anything more than moderate drinking can lead to serious health problems, however, including strokes; pancreatitis; cancer of the liver, pancreas, mouth, larynx or esophagus; heart-muscle damage; high blood pressure; and cirrhosis of the liver.
Recently Answered
- Q Which is healthier, vodka or brandy?
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Dr. Mehmet Oz, CardiologyBrandy is better for you than vodka. Learn why in this video with Dr. Oz. Full Answer
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- Q What are home remedies for hangovers?
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There is no cure for a hangover -- only time. Fortunately, hangover symptoms last only about 24 hours. To ease the symptoms, try these home remedies: Alcohol causes dehydration, so drink plenty of water. Also drink fruit juice and tomato juice.... Full Answer
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- Q What are best ways to avoid negative side effects after drinking?
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Your best bet is most likely to limit consumption. If you do consume alcohol, be sure to drink water as well to help replenish lost moisture. While greasy food may feel like the best for a hangover, it's in your best interest to stick with healthy foods... Full Answer
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- Q Can hangovers be prevented?
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Dr. Michael Roizen, Internal MedicineThere's only one surefire way to prevent a hangover, and you know what it is. Don't over-imbibe. That won't just help you avoid waking with pounding head eleven hours from now; it may help you avoid driving into a tree fifteen hours from now-well... Full Answer
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- Q How can alcohol affect someone who is depressed?
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In low doses, alcohol produces a feeling of relaxation and well-being, makes people more interactive and talkative, and has beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. However, in even moderate doses, alcohol begins to act as a depressant.... Full Answer
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- Q Can drinking alcohol cause vitamin deficiencies?
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Dr. Dariush Mozaffarian, CardiologyHeavy drinking is known to cause folic acid deficiency. And even moderate drinking -- about one drink per day for women and two for men -- may pose a problem. Women in the Nurses' Health Study who drank moderate amounts of alcohol and took in little... Full Answer
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- Q How much alcohol should I drink daily to help my heart?
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The Mayo Clinic reports that having one or two drinks per day could lower your risk of heart disease, but researchers caution you should be careful not to drink too much. Men can have two drinks a day, but women should have just one 12-ounce beer, or a... Full Answer
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- Q How can I drink less alcohol?
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Dr. Howard Shaffer, Addiction MedicineThe National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism suggests the following steps to help people cut back on their drinking: Put it in writing. Making a list of the reasons to curtail your drinking—such as feeling healthier, sleeping better,... Full Answer
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- Q What are the effects of alcohol?
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Dr. Howard Shaffer, Addiction MedicineAlcohol is a depressant, which means it slows down the central nervous system just like other sedatives do. At low doses, this dampening of the nervous system leads to a loss of inhibitions, which is why people under the influence of alcohol are... Full Answer
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- Q How can drinking alcohol affect me as I get older?
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Dr. Howard Shaffer, Addiction MedicineAs you age, several factors combine to make drinking an increasingly risky behavior. Your ability to metabolize alcohol declines. After drinking the same amount of alcohol, older people have higher blood alcohol concentrations than younger people... Full Answer
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