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Just one drink a day may increase the risk of dying from numerous cancers
Yahoo Health • • health
Key Points:
- A new study reveals that alcohol's role in cancer deaths in the U.S. has doubled over the past 33 years, affecting cancers such as breast, prostate, colorectal, stomach, pancreatic, liver, and head and neck cancers.
- Even moderate alcohol consumption—about one standard drink per day—increases cancer mortality risk, with federal guidelines previously recommending limits now replaced by advice to consume less alcohol for better health.
- Alcohol promotes cancer growth by altering hormone levels, producing carcinogenic acetaldehyde during metabolism, causing oxidative stress, damaging DNA, and impairing nutrient absorption.
- The study found that men and adults over 55 face the highest alcohol-related cancer death rates, with colorectal cancer leading among younger adults and breast cancer being the top alcohol-attributable cancer in women.
- Researchers emphasize that reducing alcohol intake to the lowest possible level is crucial for cancer prevention, although the study does not call for complete abstinence.
