North India Statesman
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Drinking alcohol is considered harmful for health, but new research has also proved that consuming alcohol in light or moderate amounts can also increase the risk of cancer. Dr. Vivek Murthy, Surgeon General of the Public Health Service of the United States, has warned on this.
Alcohol and cancer: data from new report
As Dr. Murthy reports, alcohol consumption increases the risk of 7 types of cancer:
- Mouth
- throat
- Esophagus (food pipe)
- breast
- Liver
- colon and rectum
- larynx (voice box)
Statistics:
As of 2020, 7,41,300 cancer cases attributed to alcohol were reported worldwide.
Less awareness: the relationship between alcohol and cancer
A survey by the American Cancer Research Institute found that only 45% of Americans knew that drinking alcohol can cause cancer.
Moderate alcohol consumption and risk of cancer
Consuming even small amounts of alcohol (beer, wine or spirits) daily can increase the risk of cancer. Research has shown that there is no “safe level” of alcohol.
- among men,
Even drinking one or less drinks a week still has a 10% lifetime risk of alcohol-related cancer. - in women,
17 out of 100 women who have one drink a week have a higher risk of alcohol-related cancer.- Breast cancer was found in 11 of these women.
- Alcohol increases estrogen hormone, which causes breast cancer.
Earlier theory now proved wrong
Earlier it was believed that alcohol in moderation was beneficial for heart health. But recent research has proved that even one drink a day can pose a major threat to health.
- The lifetime risk of cancer may increase by 19%.
