In a recent study, researchers found that alcohol is directly linked to seven different cancers. This study reveals that alcohol is not only a cause of cancer but is also attributed to a staggering 5.8% of cancer deaths worldwide. In other words, almost 6% of fatal cancer cases were due to high alcohol consumption.
It may come as no surprise that alcohol can lead to liver cancer. However, this study found not one but seven different cancers linked to alcohol consumption. These seven deadly cancers affect the oropharynx, larynx (throat), esophagus, liver, colon, rectum, and breast. The cancers listed above are the ones that the researchers covered specifically in the study, and they are still finding possible alcohol-related links to cancers that are not mentioned above.
Studies find a relationship between increasing amounts of average daily alcohol consumption and a higher relative risk for different types of cancer.
Source: niaaa.nih.gov
Another alarming finding of this study is that people who drink large amounts of alcohol are not the only ones at risk of cancer. In fact, people who are considered to be low or moderate drinkers still have a risk of battling this disease at some point in their lifetime.
Educating the Public on the Effects of Alcohol
The results of this study inspired researchers to try and actively change the public perception of drinking alcohol as a harmless leisure activity. They hope to educate people about the true and very serious harm they could be doing to their body.
Researchers in this study are pushing for not only public recognition of the link between alcohol and cancer but for their study results to change societal norms when it comes to drinking. Since recreational drinkers are also at an increased risk for cancer, experts suggest that the maximum weekly intake for men be lowered to 14 units, or seven pints of beer, a week and highly recommend for people to have “alcohol-free days” during the week as well.
The findings in this study should not be taken lightly since anyone who consumes alcohol increases their risk of cancer. The researchers in this study are not necessarily suggesting that drinking alcohol should be entirely off-limits, as there are other studies that show small amounts of alcohol can be healthy. However, they are suggesting that every person should be educated on the risks and truly understand what is at stake when consuming alcohol.
