Most people have consumed alcohol at some point in their lives. Low to moderate levels of alcohol consumption have been shown not to be dangerous, but high and heavy drinking can have serious negative consequences on one’s health.
Now that the festive season is upon us, it is important to remind ourselves of the dangers of seasonal binge drinking. One drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men, count as moderate drinking.
Moderate drinking seems to lower the risk of heart disease, stroke, and diabetes. However, consuming alcohol in high amounts remains highly dangerous. Alcohol is one of the leading preventable causes of death in many countries.
New research looks at the impact of alcohol on the risk of developing stroke. Researchers from the Karolinska Institute in Sweden and the University of Cambridge in the United Kingdom examined associations between alcohol consumption and different types of stroke.
Levels of alcohol consumption were evaluated using patients’ self-reporting. Participants answered a series of questions using a questionnaire or an interview.
Using standardised measures of alcohol, alcohol consumption was divided into four categories: light drinking (one daily drink or less), moderate drinking (one to two drinks per day), high drinking (two to four drinks per day), and heavy drinking (more than four drinks daily).
The study adjusted for variables such as age, sex, smoking, body mass index (BMI), and diabetes.
Just for today
In my desire for romance, I will not ignore my recovery.
The AA Estcourt branch hosts meetings every Tuesday at Forderville Primary School from 7pm to 8pm. Contact Desigan on 082 849 3014.
The AA Winterton branch hosts meetings every Thursday at the Springfield Church opposite the police station from 7pm to 8pm. Contact Dolly on 071 688 5330 or Virgilo on 079 688 0432.
