Alcohol
Good and Bad?

The long-term effects of alcohol are yet fully understood. Although regular light-to-moderate intake has been shown to have positive effects on health, frequent heavy drinking can increase the risk of developing alcoholism, liver disease, and some forms of cancer.

Research in various countries has found the all-cause mortality rates range from 16 to 28 percent lower among moderate drinkers than abstainers.

The cardiovascular effects of consistent, moderate drinking are perhaps the most studied and the most widely-accepted. The world Health Organization Technical Committee on Cardiovascular Disease asserted that the relationship between moderate consumption and reduced death from heart disease could no longer be doubted.

If you are a nondrinker, however, you should not start drinking solely to benefit your heart. You can guard against heart disease by exercising and eating foods that are low-fat. And if pregnant, planning to become pregnant, have been diagnosed as alcoholic, or have another medical condition that could make drinking harmful, you should not drink

If you can safely drink and you chose to drink, do so in moderation as heavy consumption can actually increase the risk of heart failure, stroke, and high blood pressure, as well as cause many other medical problems and diseases, such as alcoholism and liver cirrhosis, which can be chronic.

Meaning that it last a person's lifetime; it usually follows a predictable course; and it has symptoms:

• Craving; A strong desire, or urge, to drink>
• Loss of control: Not being able to stop drinking once drinking has begun.
• Physical dependence: withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea, sweating, shakiness, and anxiety after stopping drinking.
• Tolerance: The need to drink greater amounts to get high

The risk for developing the alcoholism is influenced both by a person's genes and his or her lifestyle. The cravings an alcoholic feels can be as strong as the need for food or water and he or she will continue to drink despite serious family, health, or legal problems.