Studies Suggest Even Light To Moderate Alcohol Consumption Can Increase Your Risk For Cancer

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, light to moderate alcohol consumption is described as consuming up to one standard drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men. However, according to new research, even light to moderate alcohol consumption can increases one’s risk for developing cancer.

In the past, previous studies have associated heavy alcohol consumption with a higher susceptibility for developing certain cancers such as breast, colon, liver, and mouth  cancers. But according to Professor Edward Giovannucci and colleagues of the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, there has been little evidence showing how light to moderate alcohol consumption impacts one’s risk for cancer, according to Medical News Today.

Furthermore, the researchers also made note of there being little research done on how alcohol consumption affects cancer risk independent of smoking. Smoking is a well established risk factor for many cancers related to alcohol, and due to drinkers being more likely to smoke. According to the researchers, smoking may have been a confounding factor in previous studies linking alcohol consumption with cancer risk.

In response to the lack of research, Professor Giovannucci and his colleagues devised a plan to assess the relationship between light to moderate drinking and cancer, in addition to observing how alcohol consumption like so impacts cancer risk independent of tobacco use. The team of researchers analyzed data from two large US studies which involved 88,084 women and 47, 881 men whose health had been monitored for up to 30 years.  The participants alcohol consumption was determined by completing a dietary intake questionnaire every 4 years.

In addition to assessing the patient’s overall risk for developing cancer, the researchers also assessed their risk for developing alcohol-related cancers including colon, rectal, liver, breast, oral cavity, pharynx and esophagus cancers.

The studies results showed that over the 30-year follow up period, 19,269 cancers were diagnosed in women and 7,571 cancers were diagnosed in men.  Both men and women who engaged in light to moderate drinking were found to be at a small but “non-significant” increased total cancer risk, in spite of their history of smoking. Researchers did discover that women who engaged in light to moderate drinking were at greater risk of alcohol-related cancers, especially breast cancer. These results remained true for women with or without a history of smoking. In men, only this who had a history of smoking.

Further research will need to be conducted in order to assess the link between smoking and alcohol consumption on one’s risk for cancer, however Professor Giovannucci believes the current findings suggests women should consume no more than one alcoholic beverage daily, and no more than two for men.

 

Keep Up With Trending Addiction News
Follow us: Facebook | Twitter | Google+ | Pinterest | Instagram

The post Studies Suggest Even Light To Moderate Alcohol Consumption Can Increase Your Risk For Cancer appeared first on Harbor Village Florida.

from Misc http://ift.tt/1HWpznK via Heroin Rehab Dallas