Health is Wealth
4 January 2023
News release
Reading time: 3 min (759 words)
The risks and harms associated with drinking alcohol have been systematically evaluated over the years and are well documented. The World Health Organization has now published a statement in The Lancet Public Health: when it comes to alcohol consumption, there is no safe amount that does not affect health.
Alcohol is a toxic, psychoactive, and dependence-producing substance and has been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer decades ago – this is the highest risk group, which also includes asbestos, radiation and tobacco. Alcohol causes at least seven types of cancer, including the most common cancer types, such as bowel cancer and female breast cancer. Ethanol (alcohol) causes cancer through biological mechanisms as the compound breaks down in the body, which means that any beverage containing alcohol, regardless of its price and quality, poses a risk of developing cancer.
The risk of developing cancer increases substantially the more alcohol is consumed. However, latest available data indicate that half of all alcohol-attributable cancers in the WHO European Region are caused by “light” and “moderate” alcohol consumption – less than 1.5 litres of wine or less than 3.5 litres of beer or less than 450 millilitres of spirits per week. This drinking pattern is responsible for the majority of alcohol-attributable breast cancers in women, with the highest burden observed in countries of the European Union (EU). In the EU, cancer is the leading cause of death – with a steadily increasing incidence rate – and the majority of all alcohol-attributable deaths are due to different types of cancers.
To identify a “safe” level of alcohol consumption, valid scientific evidence would need to demonstrate that at and below a certain level, there is no risk of illness or injury associated with alcohol consumption. The new WHO statement clarifies: currently available evidence cannot indicate the existence of a threshold at which the carcinogenic effects of alcohol “switch on” and start to manifest in the human body.
Moreover, there are no studies that would demonstrate that the potential beneficial effects of light and moderate drinking on cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes outweigh the cancer risk associated with these same levels of alcohol consumption for individual consumers.
“We cannot talk about a so-called safe level of alcohol use. It doesn’t matter how much you drink – the risk to the drinker’s health starts from the first drop of any alcoholic beverage. The only thing that we can say for sure is that the more you drink, the more harmful it is – or, in other words, the less you drink, the safer it is,” explains Dr Carina Ferreira-Borges, acting Unit Lead for Noncommunicable Disease Management and Regional Advisor for Alcohol and Illicit Drugs in the WHO Regional Office for Europe.
Despite this, the question of beneficial effects of alcohol has been a contentious issue in research for years.
“Potential protective effects of alcohol consumption, suggested by some studies, are tightly connected with the comparison groups chosen and the statistical methods used, and may not consider other relevant factors”, clarifies Dr Jürgen Rehm, member of the WHO Regional Director for Europe’s Advisory Council for Noncommunicable Diseases and Senior Scientist at the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research and the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada.
Globally, the WHO European Region has the highest alcohol consumption level and the highest proportion of drinkers in the population. Here, over 200 million people in the Region are at risk of developing alcohol-attributable cancer.
Disadvantaged and vulnerable populations have higher rates of alcohol-related death and hospitalization, as harms from a given amount and pattern of drinking are higher for poorer drinkers and their families than for richer drinkers in any given society.
“So, when we talk about possible so-called safer levels of alcohol consumption or about its protective effects, we are ignoring the bigger picture of alcohol harm in our Region and the world. Although it is well established that alcohol can cause cancer, this fact is still not widely known to the public in most countries. We need cancer-related health information messages on labels of alcoholic beverages, following the example of tobacco products; we need empowered and trained health professionals who would feel comfortable to inform their patients about alcohol and cancer risk; and we need overall wide awareness of this topic in countries and communities,” adds Dr Ferreira-Borges.
4 January 2023
News release
Reading time: 3 min (759 words)
The risks and harms associated with drinking alcohol have been systematically evaluated over the years and are well documented. The World Health Organization has now published a statement in The Lancet Public Health: when it comes to alcohol consumption, there is no safe amount that does not affect health.
Alcohol is a toxic, psychoactive, and dependence-producing substance and has been classified as a Group 1 carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer decades ago – this is the highest risk group, which also includes asbestos, radiation and tobacco. Alcohol causes at least seven types of cancer, including the most common cancer types, such as bowel cancer and female breast cancer. Ethanol (alcohol) causes cancer through biological mechanisms as the compound breaks down in the body, which means that any beverage containing alcohol, regardless of its price and quality, poses a risk of developing cancer.
The risk of developing cancer increases substantially the more alcohol is consumed. However, latest available data indicate that half of all alcohol-attributable cancers in the WHO European Region are caused by “light” and “moderate” alcohol consumption – less than 1.5 litres of wine or less than 3.5 litres of beer or less than 450 millilitres of spirits per week. This drinking pattern is responsible for the majority of alcohol-attributable breast cancers in women, with the highest burden observed in countries of the European Union (EU). In the EU, cancer is the leading cause of death – with a steadily increasing incidence rate – and the majority of all alcohol-attributable deaths are due to different types of cancers.
To identify a “safe” level of alcohol consumption, valid scientific evidence would need to demonstrate that at and below a certain level, there is no risk of illness or injury associated with alcohol consumption. The new WHO statement clarifies: currently available evidence cannot indicate the existence of a threshold at which the carcinogenic effects of alcohol “switch on” and start to manifest in the human body.
Moreover, there are no studies that would demonstrate that the potential beneficial effects of light and moderate drinking on cardiovascular diseases and type 2 diabetes outweigh the cancer risk associated with these same levels of alcohol consumption for individual consumers.
“We cannot talk about a so-called safe level of alcohol use. It doesn’t matter how much you drink – the risk to the drinker’s health starts from the first drop of any alcoholic beverage. The only thing that we can say for sure is that the more you drink, the more harmful it is – or, in other words, the less you drink, the safer it is,” explains Dr Carina Ferreira-Borges, acting Unit Lead for Noncommunicable Disease Management and Regional Advisor for Alcohol and Illicit Drugs in the WHO Regional Office for Europe.
Despite this, the question of beneficial effects of alcohol has been a contentious issue in research for years.
“Potential protective effects of alcohol consumption, suggested by some studies, are tightly connected with the comparison groups chosen and the statistical methods used, and may not consider other relevant factors”, clarifies Dr Jürgen Rehm, member of the WHO Regional Director for Europe’s Advisory Council for Noncommunicable Diseases and Senior Scientist at the Institute for Mental Health Policy Research and the Campbell Family Mental Health Research Institute at the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health, Toronto, Canada.
Globally, the WHO European Region has the highest alcohol consumption level and the highest proportion of drinkers in the population. Here, over 200 million people in the Region are at risk of developing alcohol-attributable cancer.
Disadvantaged and vulnerable populations have higher rates of alcohol-related death and hospitalization, as harms from a given amount and pattern of drinking are higher for poorer drinkers and their families than for richer drinkers in any given society.
“So, when we talk about possible so-called safer levels of alcohol consumption or about its protective effects, we are ignoring the bigger picture of alcohol harm in our Region and the world. Although it is well established that alcohol can cause cancer, this fact is still not widely known to the public in most countries. We need cancer-related health information messages on labels of alcoholic beverages, following the example of tobacco products; we need empowered and trained health professionals who would feel comfortable to inform their patients about alcohol and cancer risk; and we need overall wide awareness of this topic in countries and communities,” adds Dr Ferreira-Borges.
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Kickstart your New Year’s health resolutions this month with these top nutrition tips from our Senior Dietitians at Blackrock Health Hermitage Clinic. Prioritise your health this year by following some simple guidelines:
– Prioritise whole foods: Swap processed snacks for nourishing, nutrient-dense snacks such as nuts and dried fruits, fruit and yogurt, cheese and crackers, nutty flapjacks, oat snacks. When opting for convenience snacks be aware of the ingredient list, some snacks which may label themselves as ‘healthy’ alternatives may have a long list of ingredients, generally the more whole ingredients and the shorter the list the better!
– Stay hydrated: Start each day with a glass of water and aim for 8 glasses throughout the day. Proper hydration is key for energy and overall well-being.
– Limit alcohol: Alcohol dehydrates and can cause fatigue which leads to poorer food choices as well as negatively impacting overall health. Swap alcoholic drinks for non-alcoholic alternatives where possible and aiming for at least three alcohol free days per week.
– Stay active: Incorporating some daily movement (outside if possible) will support overall mood, energy levels and health.
– Plan ahead: Try not let busy schedules derail your healthy eating goals. Meal prepping, batch cooking and planning snacks will help you stay on track.
At Blackrock Health, our Dietetics and Clinical Nutrition department is made up of Registered Dietitians who help manage and support a variety of nutritional and medical concerns to patients across our clinics.
If you are interested in outpatient dietetic support please visit our Dietetics & Nutrition pages (https://www.blackrockhealth.com/treat…/dietetics-nutrition) where you will find the many options available.
Get your blood pressure checked at least once a year and understand what the numbers mean. Severe high blood pressure combined with symptoms such as chest pain or trouble speaking may be a hypertensive emergency, according to the new high blood pressure guideline, and you should call 911 immediately.
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How Stress Is Linked to High Blood Pressure
Daily stressors can increase BP in the moment, as well as contribute to habits that can feed long-term hypertension
Feeling stressed? If so, you’re hardly alone, given that stress has been called the health epidemic of the 21st century. But have you ever wondered what all this stress means for your blood pressure?
The answer, it turns out, is more complex than you might think. Let’s take a closer look with preventive cardiologist Luke Laffin, MD.
Stressful moments can totally send your blood pressure (BP) skyrocketing. You feel it deep in your core, too, as your heart thumps harder and your nerves jangle with a fight-or-flight response.
“If we’re in a stressful situation, the normal physiologic response is to increase blood pressure,” explains Dr. Laffin. “But your body can handle these sorts of acute changes in blood pressure pretty well.”
And once the immediate stressor is gone, your BP should return to its typical level.
Of course, not all stress clocks out like it’s a shift worker. Chronic stress tends to linger — and that can contribute to a long list of physical symptoms, including high blood pressure (hypertension).
Researchers don’t know as much about the direct effects of long-term stress on blood pressure. But they do know that stress can impact lifestyle habits and increase your risk of heart disease and other chronic health issues.
“Stress itself doesn’t necessarily cause sustained elevations in blood pressure,” says Dr. Laffin. “But it often has an impact on lifestyle factors, which can absolutely contribute to long-term elevations in blood pressure.”
When you’re chronically stressed, you can fall into habits that can lead to higher blood pressure and increase your risk of heart disease. These include:
It can be difficult to see when acute stress transitions to chronic stress. But seemingly “temporary” stressors that last for weeks can turn into chronic stressors that need to be addressed for the sake of your heart health.
“What we’re really worried about is chronically elevated blood pressure,” states Dr. Laffin.
Finding ways to better manage your stress can help keep your blood pressure from rising and staying at elevated levels, suggests Dr. Laffin. He suggests:
Medications like beta-blockers may also be an option if stress seems to be driving blood pressure into danger zones. Antihypertensives can help bring down high blood pressure, too.
“But managing stress-related hypertension usually comes down to lifestyle,” clarifies Dr. Laffin. “Diet, exercise, sleep — those are all factors that play a big role in keeping your heart healthy.”
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