Although the effects of alcohol consumption on the rheological properties of the blood are not known, recent experimental evidence suggests that alcohol use following exercise is associated with unfavourable changes in the main determinants of blood viscosity. It is well documented that alcohol use modulates the immune system and impairs host defence. Compelling evidence is also mounting to suggest that chronic alcohol use is linked with adverse effects on the body systems and organs including the brain, the cardiovascular system and the liver.
Abstract Alcohol use, particularly excessive alcohol consumption is one of the most serious health risks in the world. Drinking less is better for health than drinking more. Excessive alcohol use includes binge drinking , heavy drinking , any alcohol use by people under the age 21 minimum legal drinking age , and any alcohol use by pregnant women. Binge drinking is defined as a pattern of alcohol consumption that brings the blood alcohol concentration BAC level to 0.
This pattern of drinking usually corresponds to 5 or more drinks on a single occasion for men or 4 or more drinks on a single occasion for women, generally within about 2 hours. Binge drinking typically results in acute intoxication.
For men, heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming 15 drinks or more per week. For women, heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming 8 drinks or more per week.
Excessive drinking both in the form of heavy drinking or binge drinking, is associated with numerous health problems, 6 including. There is a strong scientific evidence that drinking alcohol increases the risk for cancer , including cancers of the mouth and throat, liver, breast in women and colon and rectum, and for some types of cancer, the risk increases even at low levels of alcohol consumption less than 1 drink in a day.
The evidence indicates that the more alcohol a person drinks, the higher his or her risk of developing an alcohol-associated cancer. The risk varies by many factors, such as the quantity of alcohol consumed and type of cancer.
The Dietary Guidelines for Americans external icon recommends that adults who choose to drink do so in moderation — 1 drink or less on a day for women or 2 drinks or less on a day for men. However, emerging evidence suggests that even drinking within the recommended limits may increase the overall risk of death from various causes, such as from several types of cancer and some forms of cardiovascular disease.
According to the — Dietary Guidelines for Americans external icon 1 some people should not drink alcoholic beverages at all, including:. To reduce the risk of alcohol-related harms, the Guidelines recommend that adults of legal drinking age can choose not to drink, or to drink in moderation by limiting intake to 2 drinks or less in a day for men or 1 drink or less in a day for women, on days when alcohol is consumed. The Guidelines also do not recommend that individuals who do not drink alcohol start drinking for any reason and that if adults of legal drinking age choose to drink alcoholic beverages, drinking less is better for health than drinking more.
There is no known safe level of alcohol use during pregnancy. Women who are pregnant or plan on becoming pregnant should refrain from drinking alcohol. Women of childbearing age should also avoid binge drinking to reduce the risk of unintended pregnancy and potential exposure of a developing fetus to alcohol. Not drinking alcohol is the safest option for breastfeeding mothers. Generally, moderate consumption of alcoholic beverages by a woman who is lactating up to 1 standard drink in a day is not known to be harmful to the infant, especially if the woman waits at least 2 hours after a single drink before nursing or expressing breast milk.
Women considering consuming alcohol during lactation should talk to their healthcare provider. Alcohol use slows reaction time and impairs judgment and coordination, which are all skills needed to drive a car safely.
The legal limit for drinking is the alcohol level above which a person is subject to legal penalties e. All states in the United States have adopted 0. However, drivers younger than 21 are not allowed to operate a motor vehicle with any level of alcohol in their system. Note: Legal limits do not define a level below which it is safe to operate a vehicle or engage in some other activity.
Impairment due to alcohol use begins to occur at levels well below the legal limit. Drinking is a problem if it causes trouble in your relationships, in school, in social activities, or in how you think and feel. If you are concerned that either you or someone in your family might have a drinking problem, consult your personal health care provider. Consult your personal health care provider if you feel you or someone you know has a drinking problem. How many calories are in your drink?
The UK Chief Medical Officers advise it is safest not to drink more than 14 units of alcohol a week on a regular basis. And if you do drink this much, spread it evenly over three or more days, with at least three drink-free days every week.
Regularly drinking more than the low risk drinking guidelines will put your health at risk. A great way to cut down is by keeping track of how much you drink using our Drinkaware app. Arming yourself with strategies and tips can help you or a loved one take small steps towards big results. Alcohol in the body. Bmj, , Alcohol, athletic performance and recovery. Nutrients, 2 8 , The effect of alcohol on athletic performance. Current Sports Medicine Reports, 5 4 , The following campus organizations share core values and mission concepts with Recreation and Wellness.
These links navigate off the Recreation and Wellness website. Once alcohol is swallowed, it is not digested like food. First, a small amount is absorbed directly by the tongue and mucosal lining of the mouth. Once in the stomach, alcohol is absorbed directly into your blood stream through the tissue lining of the stomach and small intestine. First, it physically obstructs the alcohol from coming in contact with the stomach lining. Second, food in the stomach will prevent alcohol from passing into the duodenum, which is the upper portion of the small intestine.
The surface area of the small intestine is very large about the size of a tennis court , so alcohol has more access to enter the bloodstream once it leaves the stomach. If alcohol is sequestered in the stomach it will be absorbed slower. Once alcohol is in your bloodstream, it is carried to all organs of your body. In the majority of healthy people, blood circulates through the body in 90 seconds, thereby allowing alcohol to affect your brain and all other organs in a short amount of time.
The full effects of a drink are felt within 15 to 45 minutes depending on the speed of absorption. Alcohol enters all tissues of the body except bone and fat.
Body composition is important, because if the percentage of adipose tissue is high, the alcohol can only be distributed throughout the remaining lean tissue — resulting in a higher concentration for those areas.
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