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Doctors' Reasons Not to Drink Alcohol

Moderate and occasional drinking may be acceptable, but excessive alcohol consumption has social and health implications. According to the Centers for Disease Control, excessive alcohol is the third leading lifestyle-related cause of death in the United States, claiming an average of 79,000 deaths annually. Doctors consider alcohol a drug, and it can be addictive. There are many reasons that doctors cite when recommending patients not drink alcohol.

  1. Physiological Changes

    • According to Family Doctor, alcohol can change the way your mind and body works. As little as one can of beer (three to five percent alcohol) can impede reaction time and cause confusion in the brain. This in turn can cause problems with any form of activities that involve concentration and coordination, such as driving. The alcohol content can also cause the chemicals in the body to react, inducing vomiting, seizures or passing out. Other physiological changes include slurred speech, bad breath, dizziness and feeling out of control.

    Cancer Risks

    • According to Mayo clinic, excessive drinking increases the risks for certain cancers such as breast, mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus and liver cancer. How? Irritants found in alcohol may damage the cells in the mouth and throat. When damaged cells try to repair themselves, they may change the body's DNA, which may lead to cancer risks. Alcohol may also act as a solvent, causing harmful chemicals to be absorbed more readily, which explains why drinking and smoking at the same time is particularly detrimental as harmful chemicals in the tobacco can enter cells lining the digestive tract more easily.

    Nutrient Uptake and Hormone Balance

    • The American Cancer Society offers more reasons to abstain from excessive alcohol consumption. Alcohol may reduce the body's ability to absorb folate, a water soluble B vitamin responsible for cell growth and preventing changes to DNA. Low levels of folate have been linked to increased risks of breast and colorectal cancer. In addition, alcohol can also spike the level of estrogen in the body, increasing the risk for breast cancer.

    Liver Disease

    • Alcohol consumption may also lead to liver disease. Although not all alcohol drinkers will develop liver disease, the possibility increases with the amount of alcohol they consume. There are three types of liver disease, according to Cleveland Clinic. Fatty liver is associated with acute alcohol consumption, and it is possible to reverse this condition with abstinence. Alcoholic hepatitis occurs when a person consumes an excessive amount of alcohol over extended period of time. This condition may result in liver failure and death. Cirrhosis, the most well-known effect of alcohol abuse, causes the liver to develop thick brands of fibrous tissue and nodules, which may result in portal hypertension and liver failure.

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