Linwood Group Reveal the Links Between Health and Alcohol Abuse

London, UK (PRWEB) January 21, 2010

Linwood Group reveal the links between health and alcohol abuse following the publication of recent national survey figures which have shown that the UK general public is buying and consuming significantly more alcohol than is good for them. In fact, to even meet the Department of Health’s daily alcohol recommendations of no more than 3-4 units for men and 2-3 units for women, the country’s yearly purchasing of alcohol would have to be reduced by a third.* Not only is this excess consumption damaging our pockets, but our health as well. Here, Sue Allchurch, director at the Linwood Group, discusses the link between health and alcohol and explains the short and longer-term health implications of abusing recommended daily drinking levels.

“There is a quote that says ‘whatever you do do it in moderation’ and I think that this is the secret to having a relationship with alcohol that leads to long term health. More and more medical trials are showing that alcohol, when drunk in moderation, can have a positive impact on our health, but the key to this statement is moderation. Many studies have shown that when a small glass of wine is drunk daily with a meal it can raise levels of “good cholesterol,” which helps prevent harmful blood clots and helps keep blood flowing smoothly through our bodies, reducing risks of heart attack and stroke. However, the dangers to a person’s short and longer-term health begin when that ‘one small glass’ becomes larger and more frequent.”

What happens to a person’s body once they begin to regularly exceed recommended alcohol limits? Here are the short and longer term effect of alcohol on a person’s overall health and wellbeing:

Short-term health effects:

Excess alcohol can slow a person’s breathing and heartbeat
Increased alcohol levels can lead to sexual difficulties such as impotence
Anxiety can be increased through alcohol consumption
Excess consumption can also lead to suffocation through choking on vomit or the possibility of fatal poisoning
There is an increase in mental and physical fatigue as the body tries to process increased toxicity
There is an increased risks of injury from accidents, violence whilst under the influence and loss of short-term memory

Longer-term health effects:

Heavy drinkers who substitute alcohol calories for nutritious foods run the risk of malnutrition, which can lead to osteoporosis (a thinning of the bones)
Long-term excessive drinking increases high blood fats (triglycerides) and subsequently the chances of obesity, due to the empty calories in alcohol. This in turn leads to higher blood pressure, increasing the risk of heart attacks
High levels of alcohol consumption increases the risk of liver cirrhosis, stomach ulcers and gastrointestinal complications
Increased alcohol consumption over the longer term can also lead to fertility problems and damage to an unborn child if the mother continues drinking excessively through pregnancy
Longer- term abuse of alcohol increases the risk of diabetes and strokes and it has also been linked to brain damage and dementia
Cancers of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, colon (especially in men) and breast are also directly linked to alcohol abuse

So, if someone is drinking beyond sensible limits, what can be done about it? Well here are some suggestions for taking those vital steps back to health:

Try to avoid situations in which there is a temptation to drink too much. If this is not possible, plan in advance to NOT drink too much and gain the support of friends and family to help achieve this goal
Seek out people to spend time with who do not drink. This sounds like an obvious thing to do, but if someone needs to break a social drinking pattern that has become dangerous to their health, they might find initially that most of the people they choose to socialise with are drinkers. A local support group is invaluable for this kind of help
If someone is struggling to reduce their drinking levels, they should make an appointment to see their GP or practice nurse for information on support groups and professional help available to them

Contact Linwood Group for free and confidential help about the effects of alcohol or call on: 0800 066 4173. From a mobile phone or from overseas, call +441226 698 054.

*Source: Centre for Public Health, published by Alcohol Concern, 18 Dec 2009

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