Tag: Wellness

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How Alcohol Affects Your Heart @ClevelandClinic #heartaware

You likely know that drinking alcohol too often or to excess isn’t a good idea, health-wise. But when it comes to alcohol and heart health, you may have heard different sides. Is drinking all that bad for your heart? Can a glass of wine help reduce your risk of heart disease — or make it worse? 

First things first: If you drink alcohol, you should do so in moderation to avoid alcohol-related heart issues. And you should never intentionally use alcohol to try to reduce your risk of heart disease. 

To further explore the relationship between your ticker and your favorite glass of merlot or IPA, we chatted with cardiologist Leslie Cho, MD.

Ways alcohol can impact heart health

Here are some of the effects of alcohol on your heart:

Increased heart rate

One of the most important things your heart does is keep a rhythm. On average, a regular heart rate is about 60 to 100 beats per minute when your body is at rest. But alcohol can lead to your heart rate temporarily jumping up in speed, and if it goes over 100 beats per minute, it can cause a condition called tachycardia. Too many episodes of tachycardia could lead to more serious issues like heart failure or going into irregular rhythms, which can cause heart attack and stroke.

Raises blood pressure

That fourth drink at the bar may feel like it’s relaxing you, but it’s actually affecting your body differently than you might think. Alcohol can affect your blood pressure, causing it to go up temporarily. This is especially true when you engage in binge drinking (that’s defined as four or more drinks within two hours for women and people assigned female at birth, and five or more drinks within two hours for men and people assigned male at birth).

And sure, we’ve all had a night here or there where we’ve had one too many and we know it. But it’s important to make sure those nights of overindulgence are the exception and not the rule. If you’re not sure, make a note to tune into how much you’re having over the course of the next month or so. If it’s more than recommended, try to consciously pace your drinking to help reduce the spike in your blood pressure that excessive alcohol causes. 

And if you have a history of high blood pressure, it’s best to avoid alcohol completely or drink only occasionally, and in moderation. 

Irregular heartbeat

Whether it’s a glass of red wine with your turkey or toasting champagne for the new year, alcohol definitely becomes more present during the holiday season. And while enjoying celebratory spirits in moderation is alright for most people, it’s important to be aware you can fall victim to holiday heart syndrome if you overdo it. This is when overeating and overindulging in alcohol lead to an irregular heartbeat.

Holiday heart syndrome can happen if you don’t typically drink alcohol, but then have a few at a holiday party or if you binge drink. This can cause you to develop an irregular heartbeat, called atrial fibrillation, which can increase your risk of stroke, heart attack and heart failure.

Prolonged drinking can cause alcoholic cardiomyopathy

The short-term effects of alcohol (headache, nausea, you know the rest) are easy to pinpoint. But there are ways that alcohol affects your body over time that are important to understand. One of the long-term effects of alcohol on your heart is alcoholic cardiomyopathy. This is when your heart-pumping function gets weaker and your heart gets larger due to changes from heavy alcohol use over a long period of time.

OK, don’t panic. If you’re an occasional drinker, there’s no cause for worry. But it may be worthwhile learning about what counts as binge drinking and whether or not you may be drinking too much and don’t even know it.

Is some level of alcohol safe or beneficial?

It’s true, red wine is a better choice than hard liquor. But can a trip to the wine bar boost your heart health?

You should never consider wine or any other alcohol as a way to lower your heart disease risk. And, in fact, the study also showed that drinking one or fewer drinks per day was related to the lowest likelihood of dying from a stroke. However, Dr. Cho points out that more recent data shows that there may be no amount of alcohol that is truly safe. “The myth that wine is beneficial for heart health is no longer true,” she states.

“It’s not a good idea to start drinking alcohol in an effort to lower your risk of heart disease,” Dr. Cho continues. “It’s better not to drink any alcohol at all.” 

The American Heart Association recommends the same. 

Other factors to keep in mind

It’s also important to know that the ways in which alcohol affects your heart will vary from person to person, depending on your age and other conditions you may have.

Age

Let’s face it, a hangover in your mid-40s doesn’t feel the same as one in your early 20s. This is because your age plays a factor in how well you tolerate alcohol. While some people develop a tolerance to alcohol over time, this isn’t true for everyone — and this ability doesn’t last forever, Dr. Cho notes.

“As we get older, our ability to clear alcohol definitely decreases and our sensitivity to alcohol probably increases,” she explains. “Also as we get older, we end up having more diseases, so we could be on medicines that can interfere with the way our bodies metabolize alcohol.”

Other medical conditions

In many ways, your medical history (and present) can tell you a lot about your future with alcohol. That means, if you’re living with other medical conditions and/or taking certain medications, this will all have an impact on how alcohol affects you.

“Certain health conditions can make drinking alcohol more dangerous,” Dr. Cho says.

For example, some people who are on cholesterol-lowering medicines may experience muscle aches when they drink alcohol. Because alcohol and cholesterol medicine both are processed through your liver, they are, in a sense, competing for clearance. So, it’s important to think about your overall health and talk to a healthcare provider about your personal risk factors.

“Alcohol is made out of sugar,” Dr. Cho points out. “So, if you’re predisposed to diabetes or if high triglycerides are one of your issues, it’s not a good idea to drink alcohol.”

Dr. Cho also warns that if you have liver dysfunction or take other medicines that are processed through the liver, your risks might be different. Talk to your healthcare provider about how alcohol might interact with your prescription medicines.

The last thing you want is for that casual drink after work or glass of wine at dinner to negatively impact your heart health. There’s a way to have a healthy, balanced relationship with alcohol that lets you enjoy a drink occasionally and celebrate with friends and family. But your heart is an important organ that should also be cared for, so be sure to drink in moderation, learn about binge drinking and know what your body can (and can’t) tolerate before opening that tab.FACEBOOKTWITTERLINKEDINPINTERESTEmailalcoholalcohol and healthalcoholic beveragesbinge drinkingheart health

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US Surgeon General calls for cancer warnings on alcohol labels @Just_Drinks

Evidence suggests “one or fewer drinks per day” may elevate the risk for cancers.

January 6, 2025

The US Surgeon General has issued an advisory recommending updates to alcoholic beverage labels to include warnings about the risks of cancer.

The document, titled Surgeon General’s Advisory on Alcohol and Cancer Risk, addressed the “direct link” between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of cancer.

According to the advisory, alcohol is the “third leading preventable cause” of cancer in the US, following tobacco use and obesity.

It underscored that alcohol consumption contributed to cancers of the breast, colorectum, oesophagus, liver, mouth, throat, and voice box, regardless of the alcohol type.

Cancer risk increases with alcohol intake, and evidence suggests that even low levels—such as “one or fewer drinks per day” —can elevate the risk for breast, mouth, and throat cancers, according to a statement from the Surgeon General’s office.

Dr Murthy called for revising the Surgeon General’s health warning labels on alcohol-containing beverages to include information about cancer risks.

This advisory also emphasised the need to reevaluate recommended limits for alcohol consumption based on the latest research to account for cancer risks.

Dr Murthy said: “Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer responsible for about 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 cancer deaths annually in the US – greater than the 13,500 alcohol-associated traffic crash fatalities per year in the US – yet the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk. 

“This advisory lays out steps we can all take to increase awareness of alcohol’s cancer risk and minimise harm.”

The release also urged public health professionals and community groups to emphasise alcohol consumption “as a leading modifiable cancer risk factor” and improve education efforts to raise public awareness.

The surgeon general advised people to consider the link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk “when deciding whether to drink or how much to have”.

The action comes in response to a 2020 letter addressed to Dr Murthy by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, American Institute for Cancer Research, Consumer Federation of America, and US Alcohol Policy Alliance, urging an update to alcoholic beverage labels to include cancer warnings.

A 2024 World Health Organization (WHO) report noted that around 2.6 million annual deaths are due to alcohol consumption.

In May 2023, Ireland became the “first” country in the European Union to mandate health labelling on alcoholic drinks with the law anticipated to take effect from 22 May 2026.

The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) issued new guidance in 2023, warning that no level of alcohol consumption is risk-free and recommended a maximum of two drinks per week.

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Alcohol affects men and women differently, with women being more affected by the health effects of alcohol use (NIAAA, 2011). Yet, a dearth of information investigating alcohol use in women exists: Source:National Library of Medicine (USgov)

The relationship between alcohol consumption and menstrual cycle: a review of the literature:

Abstract

Alcohol use affects men and women differently, with women being more affected by the health effects of alcohol use (NIAAA, 2011). Yet, a dearth of information investigating the alcohol use in women exists (SAMSHA, 2011). In particular, one dispositional factor hypothesized to contribute to alcohol consumption in women is the menstrual cycle. However, only 13 empirical papers have considered the menstrual cycle as related to alcohol consumption in women. These studies fall out with somewhat mixed findings suggesting that the premenstrual week is associated with increased, decreased, or no change in alcohol consumption, likely due to methodological differences in menstrual cycle determination and measures of alcohol consumption. These methodological differences and possible other contributing factors are discussed here with recommendations for future research in this area. Understanding the contribution of the menstrual cycle to alcohol consumption is one step in addressing an important women’s health concern.

Keywords: Alcohol consumption, Menstrual cycle, Women, Women’s health

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The “little trees” are full of fiber, folate, vitamins and more. @ClevelandClinic #broccoli

“Eat your broccoli,” may be a familiar refrain from your childhood. Maybe you didn’t love broccoli as a kid, but your parents were onto something. The “little trees” are full of fiber, folate, vitamins and more.

Broccoli is a member of the Brassica genus of plants, also known as the cabbage family. Broccoli’s relatives include Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, chard and watercress. Many Brassicas have strong flavors and mix well with meats and other vegetables.

“A pile of steamed broccoli doesn’t appeal to everyone,” recognizes registered dietitian Beth Czerwony, RD, LD. “But broccoli is incredibly versatile and can be used in so many different dishes. Toss it in with your stir fry, chop it fresh in a salad or roast it with your baby potatoes. And with an abundance of nutrients, there are many benefits of eating broccoli.”

Broccoli nutrition facts

A cup of chopped raw broccoli has approximately:

In addition, a cup of raw broccoli offers:

Source: U.S. Department of Agriculture

Broccoli benefits

It’s worth finding ways to add broccoli to your diet because it’s a health-boosting dynamo. Here’s some motivation for you to get your green on: Some of the beneficial substances in broccoli are somewhat unique to the Brassica family of vegetables. Broccoli provides nutrients that may:

  • Reduce your risk of cancer.
  • Help control blood sugar.
  • Protect your gut.
  • Boost immunity.

As a superfood status, broccoli can improve your health with these five components:

1. Compounds to reduce cancer risk

“Broccoli offers some powerful molecules that protect your cells from damage,” says Czerwony. “Some of them even destroy cancer cells.”

Cancer-fighting molecules in broccoli include DIM, indole-3-carbinol and sulforaphane. According to studies, they may help:

  • Detoxify certain substances that promote the growth of cancer cells, which means they don’t remove the substances, but they remove the harmful effects.
  • Provide antioxidants, which prevent cell damage that can lead to cancer.
  • Stop the growth and spread of cancer cells.
  • Support apoptosis, your body’s process for destroying cells that could turn into cancer.

These anticancer molecules are in several of broccoli’s cruciferous veggie relatives, too. These nutrients don’t survive cooking or freezing. So, to get the benefits, raw broccoli is best.

“Some of these compounds are even more concentrated in broccoli sprouts,” notes Czerwony. “You can find broccoli sprouts in health food stores and many grocery stores. Sprouts are also easy to grow at home using a sprouting kit.”

2. Nutrients to help manage blood sugar

Both human and lab studies suggest compounds in broccoli may help lower blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes. This effect may be due to the antioxidants in broccoli, like vitamin C.

Research shows that fiber can also help with blood sugar management. At 2.5 grams of fiber per cup, broccoli is a good source of this nutrient.

3. Ligands to protect your gut

In a nonhuman study, researchers found that broccoli can help protect the lining of your small intestine. Compounds found in broccoli, called aryl hydrocarbon receptor ligands, help keep small intestine cells working well.

Why do those cells matter so much? When your small intestine lining is healthy, it only allows water and nutrients to pass through it into your bloodstream.

But when the cells of the lining are damaged, undigested food particles, bacteria and other disease-causing particles may pass through. A damaged small intestine lining can lead to infections and inflammation. It can also prevent you from absorbing the nutrients you need.

4. Vitamin C to boost immunity

Vitamin C is well-studied as an immune-boosting nutrient. When you don’t have enough vitamin C, you’re more likely to get infections.

The antioxidant effects of vitamin C also help your body keep free radicals under control. “Free radical damage is linked to all kinds of problems, including Alzheimer’s disease, autoimmune diseases, cancer, heart disease and Parkinson’s disease,” says Czerwony. When you don’t have enough antioxidants to neutralize free radicals, they damage your cells.

Surprising but true: Broccoli has more vitamin C than oranges. In 1 cup of the green cruciferous veggie, you get a whopping 81 milligrams of vitamin C. That’s 90% of the daily U.S. recommended dietary allowance (RDA) for adults. (An orange has about 70 milligrams.)

5. Nutrients to help heart health

Research suggests certain bioactive compounds in broccoli may boost your heart health in a variety of ways. It may:

  • Lower triglycerides and LDL (“bad”) cholesterol: “High LDL can lead to fatty deposits on your artery walls, increasing your risk of artery disease, stroke and heart attack,” Czerwony explains. Research shows that eating broccoli can lower triglycerides, a type of fat, as well as LDL.
  • Provide fiber: According to a review of 22 clinical trials, fiber can reduce your risk of cardiovascular and coronary artery disease.
  • Reduce calcium buildup in blood vessels: When calcium builds up on your blood vessel walls, it increases your risk of heart attack and stroke. According to research, broccoli can help reduce this calcium buildup.

Is frozen broccoli healthy?

“If you want those anticancer compounds like sulforaphane, choose fresh broccoli,” advises Czerwony. Freezing inactivates sulforaphane.

“Frozen broccoli also loses a bit of its vitamin content. But overall, frozen broccoli is still very healthy. It’s better than not eating any broccoli because you still get a lot of the health benefits,” she continues.

Need some broccoli-inspired meals? Try these easy recipes:

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Bananas nature’s perfect snack @ClevelandClinic #therapeutic

Some have called bananas “nature’s perfect snack,” and it’s easy to see why. The curvy yellow fruits come conveniently packaged, travel well in a lunch bag or purse and are incredibly versatile. They make a great smoothie mixer or a tasty topper on cereal or oatmeal and even have their very own category of (delicious!) muffins and bread.

Are bananas healthy?

 “Absolutely,” says registered dietitian Elyse Homan, RD, LD. “They’re full of nutrients and easy on the gut. Very few people have problems digesting bananas.”

So, what are you eating when you peel and enjoy? A medium-sized ripe banana contains:

  • 105 calories.
  • 1 gram of protein.
  • 28 grams of carbohydrates.
  • 15 grams of (natural) sugar.
  • 3 grams of fiber.
  • Less than 1 gram of fat.

Health benefits of eating bananas

From vitamins to minerals to fiber, bananas are good for you, with lots of nutrition to offer. Plus, they’re easy to digest, reiterates Homan. Here’s a breakdown of banana’s most notable nutritional benefits:

1. Fiber for improved digestion and disease prevention

With 3 grams (g) of fiber, a banana supplies nearly 10% of what you need in a day, based on a 2,000-calorie daily diet, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) dietary guidelines.

You hear “fiber” and probably automatically think of digestion. It’s true — fiber is great for your gut. It helps keep things moving in your intestines, and most of us probably need to eat more.

But fiber also impacts your health in other ways. Researchers who looked at data from nearly 200 studies found that people who ate 25 to 29 g of fiber a day had up to a 30% decreased risk of:

  • Colorectal cancer.
  • Heart disease.
  • High blood pressure.
  • High cholesterol.
  • Stroke.
  • Type 2 diabetes.

2. Vitamin C for better immune health

Vitamin C (ascorbic acid) is a nutrient that helps your body absorb iron and boosts your immune system’s ability to fight illness. Adults need 75 to 90 milligrams (mg) per day. A banana delivers about 10 mg of vitamin C.

Vitamin C is one of many antioxidants you can get from food. Antioxidants are important because they cancel out free radicals in your body. Free radicals can build up and damage your cells, leading to disease. But antioxidants like vitamin C keep free radicals in check.

3. Vitamin B6 for improved metabolism and more

Your body needs vitamin B6 for:

  • Appetite regulation.
  • Immune system functions.
  • Metabolic processes.
  • Nervous system health.
  • Sleep regulation.

“One banana will give you one-quarter to one-third of the vitamin B6 you need in a day,” says Homan.

4. Potassium for organ health and lower blood pressure

The USDA recommended daily intake of potassium for adults is 4,700 to 5,000 mg. A banana supplies you with about 422 mg, or a little less than 10% of what you need per day.

Potassium, a mineral, does a lot for your body. It’s essential for the proper function of your:

  • Heart.
  • Kidneys.
  • Muscles.
  • Nerves.

Getting enough potassium also keeps your blood pressure in a healthy range. Potassium, which lowers blood pressure, balances out sodium, which raises blood pressure.

Homan says potassium also benefits your vascular system — the network of blood vessels and lymph vessels that run through your body’s tissues and organs — and reduces your risk of:

  • Heart disease.
  • Kidney failure.
  • Stroke.

5. Magnesium for improved blood pressure, blood sugar and more

A single medium-sized banana offers about 32 mg of the mineral magnesium, which fulfills around 8% to 10% of your daily magnesium requirement.

Magnesium is involved in many processes in your body, including:

  • Blood pressure.
  • Blood sugar levels.
  • Building proteins.
  • Maintaining bone.
  • Muscle function.
  • Nerve function.

Bananas and resistant starch

Green, or unripe, bananas are high in resistant starch. “Your body can’t digest resistant starch,” notes Homan. “Instead, it’s a prebiotic that promotes the growth of good bacteria in your colon.” Prebiotics improve digestive health and can be helpful if you’re experiencing diarrhea.

“I often hear patients say they avoid bananas since they’ve heard the fruit is too high in sugar,” says Homan. As bananas ripen, much of the resistant starch changes to sugar. But the health benefits of antioxidants and fiber outweigh the naturally occurring sugar. For those worried about blood sugar levels, pair bananas with a protein source such as peanut butter or a cheese stick for better control.

A small word of warning about unripe bananas: “If you’re not used to eating resistant starch, start slowly to let your body get used to it. Some people can experience constipation, gas and bloating at first,” adds Homan.

Another plus of this fruit? In addition to all the health benefits of bananas, they’re less expensive than many other fruits.

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US Surgeon General calls for cancer warnings on alcohol labels @Just_Drinks

Evidence suggests “one or fewer drinks per day” may elevate the risk for cancers.

January 6, 2025

The US Surgeon General has issued an advisory recommending updates to alcoholic beverage labels to include warnings about the risks of cancer.

The document, titled Surgeon General’s Advisory on Alcohol and Cancer Risk, addressed the “direct link” between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of cancer.

According to the advisory, alcohol is the “third leading preventable cause” of cancer in the US, following tobacco use and obesity.

It underscored that alcohol consumption contributed to cancers of the breast, colorectum, oesophagus, liver, mouth, throat, and voice box, regardless of the alcohol type.

Cancer risk increases with alcohol intake, and evidence suggests that even low levels—such as “one or fewer drinks per day” —can elevate the risk for breast, mouth, and throat cancers, according to a statement from the Surgeon General’s office.

Dr Murthy called for revising the Surgeon General’s health warning labels on alcohol-containing beverages to include information about cancer risks.

This advisory also emphasised the need to reevaluate recommended limits for alcohol consumption based on the latest research to account for cancer risks.

Dr Murthy said: “Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer responsible for about 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 cancer deaths annually in the US – greater than the 13,500 alcohol-associated traffic crash fatalities per year in the US – yet the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk. 

“This advisory lays out steps we can all take to increase awareness of alcohol’s cancer risk and minimise harm.”

The release also urged public health professionals and community groups to emphasise alcohol consumption “as a leading modifiable cancer risk factor” and improve education efforts to raise public awareness.

The surgeon general advised people to consider the link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk “when deciding whether to drink or how much to have”.

The action comes in response to a 2020 letter addressed to Dr Murthy by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, American Institute for Cancer Research, Consumer Federation of America, and US Alcohol Policy Alliance, urging an update to alcoholic beverage labels to include cancer warnings.

A 2024 World Health Organization (WHO) report noted that around 2.6 million annual deaths are due to alcohol consumption.

In May 2023, Ireland became the “first” country in the European Union to mandate health labelling on alcoholic drinks with the law anticipated to take effect from 22 May 2026.

The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) issued new guidance in 2023, warning that no level of alcohol consumption is risk-free and recommended a maximum of two drinks per week.

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In May 2023, Ireland became the “first” country in the European Union to mandate health labelling on alcoholic drinks with the law anticipated to take effect from 22 May 2026. @Just_Drinks

Evidence suggests “one or fewer drinks per day” may elevate the risk for cancers.

January 6, 2025

The US Surgeon General has issued an advisory recommending updates to alcoholic beverage labels to include warnings about the risks of cancer.

The document, titled Surgeon General’s Advisory on Alcohol and Cancer Risk, addressed the “direct link” between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of cancer.

According to the advisory, alcohol is the “third leading preventable cause” of cancer in the US, following tobacco use and obesity.

It underscored that alcohol consumption contributed to cancers of the breast, colorectum, oesophagus, liver, mouth, throat, and voice box, regardless of the alcohol type.

Cancer risk increases with alcohol intake, and evidence suggests that even low levels—such as “one or fewer drinks per day” —can elevate the risk for breast, mouth, and throat cancers, according to a statement from the Surgeon General’s office.

Dr Murthy called for revising the Surgeon General’s health warning labels on alcohol-containing beverages to include information about cancer risks.

This advisory also emphasised the need to reevaluate recommended limits for alcohol consumption based on the latest research to account for cancer risks.

Dr Murthy said: “Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer responsible for about 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 cancer deaths annually in the US – greater than the 13,500 alcohol-associated traffic crash fatalities per year in the US – yet the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk. 

“This advisory lays out steps we can all take to increase awareness of alcohol’s cancer risk and minimise harm.”

The release also urged public health professionals and community groups to emphasise alcohol consumption “as a leading modifiable cancer risk factor” and improve education efforts to raise public awareness.

The surgeon general advised people to consider the link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk “when deciding whether to drink or how much to have”.

The action comes in response to a 2020 letter addressed to Dr Murthy by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, American Institute for Cancer Research, Consumer Federation of America, and US Alcohol Policy Alliance, urging an update to alcoholic beverage labels to include cancer warnings.

A 2024 World Health Organization (WHO) report noted that around 2.6 million annual deaths are due to alcohol consumption.

In May 2023, Ireland became the “first” country in the European Union to mandate health labelling on alcoholic drinks with the law anticipated to take effect from 22 May 2026.

The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) issued new guidance in 2023, warning that no level of alcohol consumption is risk-free and recommended a maximum of two drinks per week.

Posted on

US Surgeon General calls for cancer warnings on alcohol labels @Just_Drinks

Evidence suggests “one or fewer drinks per day” may elevate the risk for cancers.

January 6, 2025

The US Surgeon General has issued an advisory recommending updates to alcoholic beverage labels to include warnings about the risks of cancer.

The document, titled Surgeon General’s Advisory on Alcohol and Cancer Risk, addressed the “direct link” between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of cancer.

According to the advisory, alcohol is the “third leading preventable cause” of cancer in the US, following tobacco use and obesity.

It underscored that alcohol consumption contributed to cancers of the breast, colorectum, oesophagus, liver, mouth, throat, and voice box, regardless of the alcohol type.

Cancer risk increases with alcohol intake, and evidence suggests that even low levels—such as “one or fewer drinks per day” —can elevate the risk for breast, mouth, and throat cancers, according to a statement from the Surgeon General’s office.

Dr Murthy called for revising the Surgeon General’s health warning labels on alcohol-containing beverages to include information about cancer risks.

This advisory also emphasised the need to reevaluate recommended limits for alcohol consumption based on the latest research to account for cancer risks.

Dr Murthy said: “Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer responsible for about 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 cancer deaths annually in the US – greater than the 13,500 alcohol-associated traffic crash fatalities per year in the US – yet the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk. 

“This advisory lays out steps we can all take to increase awareness of alcohol’s cancer risk and minimise harm.”

The release also urged public health professionals and community groups to emphasise alcohol consumption “as a leading modifiable cancer risk factor” and improve education efforts to raise public awareness.

The surgeon general advised people to consider the link between alcohol consumption and increased cancer risk “when deciding whether to drink or how much to have”.

The action comes in response to a 2020 letter addressed to Dr Murthy by the Center for Science in the Public Interest, American Institute for Cancer Research, Consumer Federation of America, and US Alcohol Policy Alliance, urging an update to alcoholic beverage labels to include cancer warnings.

A 2024 World Health Organization (WHO) report noted that around 2.6 million annual deaths are due to alcohol consumption.

In May 2023, Ireland became the “first” country in the European Union to mandate health labelling on alcoholic drinks with the law anticipated to take effect from 22 May 2026.

The Canadian Centre on Substance Use and Addiction (CCSA) issued new guidance in 2023, warning that no level of alcohol consumption is risk-free and recommended a maximum of two drinks per week.

Posted on

Why Your Face Gets Beet Red When You Drink @ClevelandClinic #inflammation

It may come on in those first few sips of alcohol. Or maybe you’re hit with a hot flash whenever you’re a few drinks in. But whenever you drink, you seem to experience a sudden sensation of warmth, and your face, neck and upper chest become covered in red patches and blotchy skin.

Is facial flushing a sign that you can’t handle your alcohol? Or is this a symptom of something more severe? Dermatologist Alok Vij, MD, explains just what causes facial flushing, along with some truth behind some common misconceptions.

What causes your face to turn red when you drink alcohol?

There are a couple of different root causes for facial flushing. More technically termed the “alcohol flush reaction,” this occurs because your body either can’t fully digest the alcohol you’re consuming or because your body is having an inflammatory response to drinking alcohol.

“Your face may flush from alcohol for two reasons: Because of an enzyme deficiency or because of rosacea,” says Dr. Vij. “Both are tied to your ethnicity.”

Enzyme deficiency

Many Asian populations, specifically 35% to 45% of East Asians, have a deficiency in alcohol dehydrogenase, the enzyme that breaks down a specific substance in alcohol called acetaldehyde.

“Alcohol is toxic to cells, and when it gets into the cells of your blood vessels, it makes them dilate,” explains Dr. Vij. “This reddens the skin and can make you feel warm.”

But without enough of this enzyme, you can end up having too much acetaldehyde in your body, and this makes alcohol reach toxic levels much earlier in your cells. This results in your skin becoming flushed.

Rosacea

Fair-skinned people of Northern European backgrounds who flush when they drink may have some degree of rosacea.

“This very common skin condition is marked by vasomotor instability or hyperactivity,” Dr. Vij explains further. “That means lots of things can dilate your blood vessels: alcohol, chocolate, hot beverages and spicy foods — basically, all the good things in life.”

Should I be worried?

You may be asking yourself this question if you’ve ever experienced facial flushing. On the surface, facial flushing might feel cosmetically embarrassing at most and may not come with any other dangerous symptoms. For those with an enzyme deficiency, facial flushing can occasionally be experienced with increased onset of nausea or vomiting because of your body’s inability to fully digest the alcohol you’re consuming.

For the most part, these factors are mostly harmless. But because alcohol is a cellular toxin, anyone who drinks excessively increases their risk for oral cancer and esophageal cancer.

“Alcohol most frequently passes through these sites,” states Dr. Vij. “Toxicity and DNA damage can build up in cells and, eventually, a cancer can form.”

But recent studies report that those who get an alcohol flush because of an enzyme deficiency are also at heightened risk of digestive, liver and respiratory cancers. These populations are more vulnerable to alcohol’s toxicity, as it’s processed and later eliminated in:

  • Your gastrointestinal (GI) tract, especially your stomach, where alcohol is absorbed.
  • Your liver, where alcohol is sent after it’s absorbed by your stomach.
  • Your lungs, where alcohol in your blood is released in your breath.

Is rosacea linked to cancer?

“We don’t think of rosacea as a precancerous disease,” Dr. Vij clarifies. “The biggest problems rosacea causes are a bulbous nose, like W.C. Fields had, and eye inflammation.”

(It was rosacea — not alcoholism — that made the storied comedian’s nose look large, red and bumpy, because of an overgrowth of the sebaceous glands, Dr. Vij adds.)

In addition, rosacea can make your eyes feel itchy, dry and chronically irritated. These eye symptoms can be managed with anti-inflammatory medication.

“We typically prescribe oral antibiotics like doxycycline or minocycline, often at lower doses than are required to kill bacteria,” he continues.

How to prevent facial flushing when drinking

If an alcohol flush makes you feel self-conscious when you drink, certain treatments can help:

  • Topical medications: Medicines like brimonidine (Mirvaso®) can block blood vessels in your skin from dilating.
  • Laser treatments: A series of laser treatments can shrink the superficial blood vessels in your skin. “You usually need three to 10 treatments to get the full effect, but it can last for years, and prevent broken blood vessels in the later stages of rosacea,” notes Dr. Vij.

But because these medications and laser treatments are considered cosmetic, they aren’t typically covered by insurance.

Are some types of alcohol more likely to cause flushing?

So, if your face flushes, are specific kinds of alcohol to blame? And can you avoid some but not others as an at-home treatment approach to facial flushing?

“It’s really patient-specific. Some people with rosacea flush more with red wine; others flush more with hard liquor,” says Dr. Vij.

If you have rosacea and keep track of what happens when you drink, you may be able to find your triggers. But if facial flushing is an issue for you at all, avoiding alcohol in all its forms might be the next best and most equitable solution.

“If flushing bothers you, and you know alcohol is a trigger, the easiest and most cost-effective solution is to avoid it,” suggests Dr. Vij.