Slow Down On The Booze! Alcohol Consumption Ups The Risk Of Developing Cancer

You might want to keep that last glass of alcohol away because drinking too much can increase your risk of cancer. Read on to know more.

Cancer is one of the biggest causes of mortality in the world. It is characterized by the formation of aberrant cells that divide in an uncontrolled manner and have the capacity to invade and destroy normal bodily tissue. It has the potential to spread throughout your body. It is caused by changes (mutations) in the DNA of cells. Inside a cell, DNA is packed into a huge number of individual genes, each of which includes a set of instructions directing the cell what functions to execute as well as how to grow and divide.

Cancer is a complex group of diseases with many possible causes. One of the major factors that increase the risk of cancer in people is their diet. For instance, alcohol consumption elevates cancer risk. Here is another study to help you understand why heavy drinking should be avoided.

Drinking Alcohol May Be Related To Cancer

A new study published in the journal The Lancet Oncology found that over four per cent of all new cancer cases in 2020 were attributable to alcohol consumption. The researchers found that of the 7,41,300 alcohol cases attributable to cancer, 5,68,000 were men, and women accounted for 1,72,600 cases. Over the ten years (2010-2020), the researchers found that drinking 20 to 60 grams, two to six drinks of ethanol alcohol per day, which they termed "risky drinking," represented 39.4% of alcohol-attributable cancer cases.

Moderate drinking (defined as 20 or fewer grammes, or up to two drinks a day) was responsible for roughly 14 per cent of cases, or 1 in 7. The greatest incidence of alcohol-related malignancies was seen in males who drank 30 to 50 grammes of ethanol alcohol per day, and in women who drank 10 to 30 grammes daily. According to the study authors, there is a need to raise awareness about the link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk among policymakers.

The Less You Drink, The Better

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, "When you drink alcohol, your body breaks it down into a chemical called acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde damages your DNA and prevents your body from repairing the damage. DNA is the cell's "instruction manual" that controls a cell's normal growth and function. When DNA is damaged, a cell can begin growing out of control and create a cancer tumour."

Drinking alcohol raises your risk of mouth, throat, larynx, oesophagus, colon, rectum, liver and breast cancer (in women). Alcohol should only be consumed in moderation as all types of alcoholic drinks can elevate the risk.

Hence, if you chose to drink, do it in moderation, meaning one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men. Excessive alcohol use not only increases cancer risk, other long term health risks include high blood pressure, weakening of the immune system, depression, anxiety, memory problems and alcohol dependence.

(with inputs from agencies)