Whether consumed regularly or just on special occasions, alcohol inevitably affects the body. It impacts everything from the brain, heart, lungs, and muscles to the gastrointestinal and immune systems, causing various harmful health effects, including cancer.
Identified as the third-leading preventable cause of cancer in the US, alcohol accounts for approximately 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths annually. For perspective, alcohol-related car accidents cause around 13,500 deaths each year.
Since the 1980s, researchers have suspected that alcohol can cause cancer. Studies have clearly shown that alcohol is link to cancers of the oral cavity, throat, voice box, esophagus, liver, colon, rectum, and breast. Additionally, there is an association between chronic and binge drinking and pancreatic cancer.
The 2000 US National Toxicology Program labeled alcohol as a known human carcinogen. By 2012, the International Agency for Research on Cancer classified it as a Group 1 carcinogen, confirming it as cancer-causing.
The CDC and N1H agree on the evidence linking alcohol to various cancers. Despite US dietary guidelines indicating that even small amounts can increase risk, many remain unaware. A 2019 survey revealed less than half of US adults are aware of these risks.
The 2023 National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed that over 224 million Americans came to grips with alcohol at some point in their lives. This increasing trend is a pressing public health concern.
In essence, reducing alcohol consumption could substantially protect your health and noticeably lower cancer risk.
Vocabulary List:
- Carcinogen /kɑːrˈsɪnəɡən/ (noun): A substance capable of causing cancer in living tissue.
- Consumption /kənˈsʌmpʃən/ (noun): The act of using up a resource in this case referring to the intake of alcohol.
- Association /əˌsoʊ.siˈeɪ.ʃən/ (noun): A relationship or connection between two or more things often referring to health risks.
- Epidemiology /ˌɛpɪˌdiːmiˈɒlədʒi/ (noun): The branch of medicine that deals with the incidence distribution and control of diseases.
- Prevention /prɪˈvɛnʃən/ (noun): The action of stopping something from happening; in this case preventing cancer.
- Binge /bɪndʒ/ (verb): To indulge in an activity particularly eating or drinking to excess.
How much do you know?
