"ALCOHOL- temporary fun with permanent consequences."
Alcohol is one of the main factors contributing to premature deaths and disability and has a major impact on public health. Alcohol use is a risk factor for many cancer types including cancer of the oral cavity, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver, colorectum and breast. Risk of cancer increases with the amount of alcohol consumed. For several types of cancer, heavy drinking of alcohol combined with tobacco use substantially increases the risks of cancer. Alcohol can damage nearly every organ and system in the body. Its use contributes to more than 60 diseases.
Alcohol-related health issues includes:
- Digestive disorders (for example stomach ulcers)
- Liver disease, dietary deficiencies and malnutrition
- Liver disease, dietary deficiencies and malnutrition
- Concentration and memory problems
- Sleeping difficulties & mental health conditions
- Suicide and suicidal behavior
- Brain damage with mood and personality changes
- Overweight and obesity
- Sexual impotence and reduced fertility
- High blood pressure and stroke
- Cancers & cardiovascular diseases
- Diabetes & heart damage
What types of cancer can be caused by alcohol?
Drinking alcohol increases the risk of mouth cancer, pharyngeal (upper throat) cancer, oesophageal (food pipe) cancer, laryngeal (voice box) cancer, breast cancer, bowel cancer and liver cancer.
Some of these might be quite surprising but alcohol gets in to our blood stream and can cause damage all around the body.
Is it worse if I drink and smoke?
Drinking and smoking are worse than either one alone, because together tobacco and alcohol cause more damage to cells in the body.
For example, alcohol makes it easier for the mouth and throat to absorb the cancer-causing chemicals in tobacco.
