Cancer risks increases with alcoholism and drug addiction: Alcohol Use and Alcoholism

In my quest to address the problem of drug addiction, it is becoming a trend that every time this topic of addiction is mention very really will it go without touching on alcohol consumption. The substance alcohol is therefore the most addictive and abused drug and one that causes most of the health problems we go through today. Having said that I want to put emphasis on this by repeating this point that most people know that heavy alcohol drinking can cause health problems, however what many people may not know is that alcohol consumption is a perfect element of cancer risks increases in their lives. Several cancers are as a result of drinking alcohol and this is what is going to form the basis of discussion in this article. If you want to be enlighten about the effects of alcohol in cancer risks increases, then keep on the link and read on for much educative and informative experience with doctor Dalal Akoury and her able team of experts from AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under .

Cancer risks increases with alcoholism and drug addiction: Types of cancer linked to alcohol use

As discussed alcohol is a known cause of different kinds of cancers. Such cancers include:

• Mouth
• Throat (pharynx)
• Voice box (larynx)
• Esophagus
• Liver
• Colon and rectum
• Breast

Besides the above alcohol may also increase the risk of cancer of the pancreas and for each of these cancers, the risk increases with the amount of alcohol consumed.

Cancer risks increases with alcoholism and drug addiction: Cancers of the mouth, throat, voice box, and esophagus

Alcohol consumption is no doubt contributes the highest risk of these cancers. Drinking and smoking combine raises the risk of these cancers much more than the effects of either drinking or smoking alone. This might be because alcohol has the ability to act as a solvent, helping harmful chemicals in tobacco to get inside the cells that line the digestive tract. Alcohol may also slow down these cells’ ability to repair damage to their DNA caused by chemicals in tobacco.

Liver cancer

Research has proved that long-term alcohol use has been linked to an increased risk of liver cancer. Regular, heavy alcohol use can damage the liver, leading to inflammation. This, in turn, might raise the risk of liver cancer.

Colon and rectal cancer

Alcohol use has been linked with a higher risk of cancers of the colon and rectum. The evidence for such a link is generally stronger in men than in women, although studies have found the link in both sexes.

Breast cancer

Even a few drinks a week is linked with an increased risk of breast cancer in women. This risk may be especially high in women who do not get enough folate (a B vitamin) in their diet or through supplements. Alcohol can affect estrogen levels in the body, which may explain some of the increased risk. Drinking less alcohol may be an important way for many women to lower their risk of breast cancer.

Cancer risks increases with alcoholism and drug addiction: Does the type of drink matter?

Ethanol is the type of alcohol found in alcoholic drinks, whether they are beers, wines, or liquors (distilled spirits). These drinks contain different percentages of ethanol, but in general a standard size drink of any type 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of 80-proof liquor contains about the same amount of ethanol (about half an ounce). Of course, larger or ‘stronger’ drinks can contain more ethanol than this.

Overall, the amount of alcohol consumed over time, not the type of alcoholic beverage, seems to be the most important factor in raising cancer risk. Most evidence suggests that it is the ethanol that increases the risk, not other things in the drink.

How alcohol raise cancer risk

The exact way alcohol affects cancer risk isn’t completely understood. In fact, there might be several different ways it can raise risk, and this might depend on the type of cancer.

Damage to body tissues

Alcohol can act as an irritant, especially in the mouth and throat. Cells that are damaged may try to repair themselves, which could lead to DNA changes in the cells that can be a step toward cancer.

In the colon and rectum, bacteria can convert alcohol into large amounts of acetaldehyde which is a chemical that has been shown to cause cancer in lab animals.

Alcohol and its byproducts can also damage the liver, leading to inflammation and scarring. As liver cells try to repair the damage, they can end up with mistakes in their DNA, which could lead to cancer.

Cancer risks increases with alcoholism and drug addiction: Effects on other harmful chemicals

Alcohol can act as a solvent, helping other harmful chemicals, such as those in tobacco smoke enter the cells lining the upper digestive tract more easily. This might explain why the combination of smoking and drinking is much more likely to cause cancers in the mouth or throat than either smoking or drinking alone. In other cases, alcohol may slow the body’s ability to break down and get rid of some harmful chemicals.

Lower levels of folate or other nutrients

Folate is a vitamin that cells in the body need to stay healthy. Alcohol use can lower the body’s ability to absorb folate from foods. This problem can be worse in heavy drinkers, who often do not get enough nutrients such as folate in their diet. Low folate levels may play a role in the risk of breast and colorectal cancers.

Effects on estrogen or other hormones

Alcohol can raise body levels of estrogen, a hormone important in the growth and development of breast tissue. This could affect a woman’s risk of breast cancer.

Effects on body weight

Too much alcohol can add extra calories to the diet, which can contribute to weight gain in some people. Being overweight or obese is known to increase the risks of many types of cancer. Along with these mechanisms, alcohol may contribute to cancer in other, as of yet unknown, ways.

Cancer risks increases with alcoholism and drug addiction: Other long-term health effects from drinking alcohol

Most people know about the short-term effects of drinking alcohol, such as its effects on mood, concentration, judgment, and coordination. But alcohol can also have longer-term health effects. These can vary a great deal from person to person. For some people, alcohol is addictive. Drinking can become heavier over time, leading to serious health and social problems. Heavy drinkers who stop drinking suddenly can have physical withdrawal symptoms such as tremors, confusion, hallucinations, seizures, and other serious problems over the next few days. In some people these can be life-threatening and does not mean that heavy drinkers should not stop drinking. It does mean that heavy drinkers should talk with their doctors about the safest way to stop drinking.

Over time, heavy drinking can cause inflammation (hepatitis) and heavy scarring (cirrhosis) in the liver which will then lead to liver failure. Heavy drinking can also damage other organs, such as the pancreas and the brain, and can raise blood pressure. With all these risk arising from the drug use you will for sure need to be taken care of with professionals who would painlessly contain the effects of addiction at all levels. This team of experts you can only get at AWAREmed Health and Wellness Resource Center under Doctor Akoury. At this facility treatment will be administered while focusing on Neuroendocrine Restoration (NER) to reinstate normality through realization of the oneness of Spirit, Mind, and Body, Unifying the threesome into ONE. This is a painless process you cannot afford to lose.

Cancer risks increases with alcoholism and drug addiction: Alcohol Use and Alcoholism