Alcohol and oncology. Can I drink alcohol after chemotherapy? What types of cancer do alcoholic beverages cause?
There was recently this topic here, which caused heated discussions, and in fact, every person, and especially after making such a diagnosis as we have, after (or in the process) of treatment, asks the question Should I drink or not drink? I'm just reading another book about cancer called "Nutrition and Cancer" by VG Bespalov. I found a lot of interesting things there that will help shed light on this most difficult question :) So, on the agenda are the benefits and harms of alcohol; how much is the dose? Interesting Facts. (I have the book in electronic form, so after reviewing the entire chapter, I highlight the main thing, something with my comments)
"Alcohol has been accompanying a person since ancient times. Grape wine or beer made by a skilled winemaker and brewer can be classified as a valuable food. Wine, beer supplies the body with certain nutrients: amino acids, organic acids; vitamins B1, B2, B5, B6, B12; minerals manganese, zinc, calcium, magnesium, iodine and other biologically active microcomponents.But people have been drinking since ancient times not because of this.A person likes the feeling of intoxication, which gives pleasure, relaxes, distracts, makes more sociable.
Alcoholic beverages have a special relationship with cancer. A number of studies have shown that alcohol increases the risk of cancer of the breast, mouth, larynx, pharynx, esophagus, stomach, pancreas, rectum, bladder, lung in humans, and also causes fibrosis and cirrhosis of the liver, which can lead to cancer this organ. Moreover, alcohol in itself is not a carcinogen, but it activates the conversion of procarcinogens into active forms, enhances the carcinogenic effects of smoking, disrupts the absorption of vitamins, trace elements and other nutrients, depresses the immune system, and through these mechanisms contributes to the development of cancer. In addition, alcoholic beverages are a high-calorie product. Alcohol, having a high energy value, is able to replace useful nutrients as an energy source. 1 g of pure alcohol contains 7.3 kcal, slightly less than fat. Alcoholics begin to eat less, the body is rebuilt to receive energy from alcohol. As a result, there is a serious deficiency of amino acids, PUFAs, vitamins, minerals and other beneficial nutrients.
On the other hand, recently there have been research results that show that moderate alcohol consumption of 20 g of pure ethyl alcohol per day (a glass of vodka, a glass of dry wine or a bottle of beer) increases the content of high-density lipoproteins in the blood and prevents the deposition of cholesterol. on the walls of blood vessels, which reduces the risk of cardiovascular crises: myocardial infarction, stroke. Scientists even consider 10 g of pure alcohol taken every other day to be a healthy dose.
-Then there are discussions about who stops at a glass of wine or vodka, that alcoholism is the scourge of modern Russia (which is generally not far from reality), about crimes committed under the influence of alcohol, about accidents, etc. . and so on, each of us knows this, and this concerns the harm of alcohol not only for an individual, but also for society as a whole. Farther -
"English doctors consider an alcoholic a man who drinks more than 21 doses of alcohol per week, and a woman who drinks more than 14 doses. A dose of alcohol is either 25 g of strong drink, or 150 g of wine, or 0.33 g of beer. From these data it can be seen that how easy it is to exceed the "healthy" dose of 20 g of pure alcohol per day and become sick.With a daily consumption of more than 40 g of alcohol, total and cardiovascular mortality is already increasing, and alcoholism significantly shortens life and is one of the main causes of premature death.Women more sensitive to the oncological consequences of alcohol consumption.According to German doctors, even moderate alcohol consumption by women (10-20 g per day) significantly increases the likelihood of getting cancer of the mouth, pharynx, larynx and breast.We should also not forget that even very small doses of alcohol significantly disrupt intellectual functions, and the main thing for a person is, after all, mental abilities.
By the way, do not forget that alcohol is also present in kefir, kvass, sauerkraut, biscuits, cakes, fillings.
"Some alcoholic beverages may contain well-known carcinogens, for example, the technology of brewing beer leads to the ingestion of carcinogenic nitroso compounds and polycyclic hydrocarbons into this beloved drink by many. Whiskey, cognac, dessert wines, ports may contain the carcinogen urethane. On the other hand, grape wine flavonoids, which prevent the development of tumors, are obtained from the skin and seeds of grapes in large quantities.The most famous flavonoid contained in grape wine is resveratrol.A number of studies have been conducted in which resveratrol effectively inhibited the occurrence and development of tumors in various organs in experiments on animals.Grape wine can be called a weak alcohol tincture containing, in addition to flavonoids, and other useful substances: vitamins, trace elements, organic acids, pectin substances.For a long time in medicine there has been a method of treatment with the help of grape wines - enotherapy. The French call grape wine the milk of old people. The “French paradox” is known: the inhabitants of this country are less likely to get sick with certain forms of tumors, coronary heart disease and heart attacks compared to other civilized countries. This paradox is explained by the regular consumption of grape wines. Hops contain anti-carcinogenic substances that get into beer: phytoestrogens that prevent the development of breast cancer, flavonoids, chlorogenic acid, and vitamins. American scientists have found that beer and dry wine in small quantities kills the causative agent of gastritis, ulcers and stomach cancer - Helicobacter pili ori; those who don't drink alcohol at all are more likely to carry this harmful microbe in their stomachs. The Christian thinker Saint John Chrysostom was right when he said: “Wine is the work of God, and drunkenness is the work of the devil.
And yet, oncologists recommend sharply limiting alcohol consumption. For dietary cancer prevention, it is best not to drink any alcoholic beverages at all, to consume them occasionally, or at least not to exceed the above-mentioned dose of 20 g of pure alcohol per day. A person who does not drink at all in modern society looks like a white crow. Allowing yourself to occasionally drink a glass of red grape wine is not at all a sin. However, it is very easy to cross the line and become addicted to alcohol. Drinking alcohol in small or moderate doses can have a positive effect, but alcohol abuse leads to severe consequences for the body and drastically shortens life. WHO experts believe that it is unreasonable to recommend alcohol as a means for the prevention of cardiovascular diseases and cancer. Special studies have shown that non-alcoholic red wine and red grape juice also have a beneficial effect on the body."
Today it has already been proven that the frequent use of alcoholic beverages in large doses contributes to the development of precancerous diseases of various organs of the human body. It is known that people who systematically drink alcohol most often suffer from gastritis (chronic). Chronic gastritis has several forms that are considered precancerous. With the systematic consumption of alcohol, the glandular apparatus and the epithelium of the gastric mucosa are affected, and such damage increases the risk of cancer.
The risk of cancer is directly dependent on how often alcohol is consumed, how much it is consumed, and what is the strength of the alcoholic beverage itself. It has been proven that frequent alcohol consumption leads to cancer of the esophagus, cancer of the stomach and rectum. Alcohol has a particularly negative effect on the liver, which is very sensitive to it. Most often, people suffering from alcoholism have, which can affect the appearance of liver cancer. Drinking alcohol can contribute to the emergence and development of chronic diseases such as chronic bronchitis, which, in turn, can contribute to the development of emphysema and pneumosclerosis. Alcohol and cancer have a strong causal relationship.
Smokers who suffer from alcoholism are especially at risk for lung and throat cancer.
The female body, alcohol and cancer is a separate issue. It is enough to consume quite a bit of alcohol so that chronic diseases, malignant tumors and cancer begin to develop in the female body. Liver cirrhosis, stomach cancer, breast cancer and other types of cancer in women with alcoholism progress much faster than in men. Women suffering from alcoholism have many other disorders in the body, including dysfunction of the reproductive system. Dysfunction is expressed in menstrual disorders, infertility, premature births, miscarriages, stillbirths, etc. Alcohol has an extremely negative effect on future offspring and can contribute to the emergence of teratogenic tumors in them.
People with alcoholism are more likely to get cancer
Medical statistics repeatedly proves that people who systematically consume alcohol are most susceptible to oncological diseases. Of course, not all alcohol drinkers develop cancer. A lot depends on how strong the immune system of a particular person is, how often the human body is susceptible to infectious diseases, and also heredity and predisposition to cancerous tumors, etc. play an important role. In modern medicine, three facts have been highlighted that prove the inextricable and direct relationship that cancer and alcohol consist of:
- Alcohol can influence the occurrence of various types of cancers in the human body.
- The likelihood of cancer is much lower if alcohol is consumed infrequently. A small dose of alcohol is completely eliminated from the body within 21 days. Therefore, it is not recommended to drink alcohol more than once every 3 weeks, otherwise it will lead to damage to many systems and organs.
- You don't have to be an alcoholic to increase your chance of getting cancer.
Cancer (carcinoma) is a malignant tumor that can grow in the epithelial tissues of various organs. In women, epithelial tumors (cancer) most often develop in the mammary glands, and in men - in the lungs. Oncological diseases most often have a long-term character, and the tumor itself during growth often does not cause unpleasant and painful sensations to the human body. A person may not be aware of the presence of a deadly carcinoma, which can manifest itself only in its final stage. The development of carcinoma depends on many causes, and each specific case of cancer is facilitated by the simultaneous combination of several factors, for example, genetic, viral and environmental.
One of the important roles in the appearance and development of carcinoma are carcinogens that are found in soil, water, clothing, food, alcohol, etc. It is the presence of a large concentration of harmful carcinogens contained in alcoholic beverages that enter the human body with alcohol and tend to accumulate, experts associate with an increased risk of the occurrence and development of carcinoma.
The influence of alcohol and its destructive power
Medical statistics repeatedly confirm that frequent alcohol consumption significantly affects the decline in the human immune system, and a drop in immunity is one of the main reasons that contributes to the growth of a cancerous tumor. It is a healthy immune system that helps the human body fight and defeat various diseases caused by viruses and infections.
Alcohol abuse gradually destroys the immune system, and prolonged binges block the normal production of phagocytes. Phagocytes are cells of the human body's immune system that protect it by engulfing (phagocytosis) foreign particles and bacteria. Violation of the process of phagocytosis leads to the inability of the human body to fight existing infections, viruses, resulting in diseases of varying severity. Everyone should understand what a huge role immunity plays and that excessive drinking contributes to the development of various diseases, including cancer, which often end in death.
As a result of medical studies, it was found that people suffering from alcoholism are 10 times more likely to have cancer of the pharynx, oral cavity, esophagus, stomach, liver, ovaries, mammary glands, colorectal cancer than in patients who have not previously abused alcohol. This is due to the fact that alcohol, which was consumed for a certain time, contributed to a sharp decrease in the level of lysozyme, lymphocytes in the blood, a decrease in the barrier function of the liver, an increase in hematocrit, the diameter and volume of erythrocytes, an imbalance of vitamins in the body and a violation of other vital signs.
Alcohol disrupts the production of vitamin A in the liver, which has a preventive anti-cancer effect. In the event of cancer, the role of immunity cannot be overestimated, since most often cancer diseases are accompanied by treatment with “chemotherapy”, which is difficult for the human body to tolerate. Only a strong immune system is able to withstand such a difficult and long-term treatment and help a person overcome cancer.
Try to stick to the measure and avoid alcohol abuse
So can you drink alcohol? No one can force a person to completely stop drinking alcoholic beverages, but awareness of all sectors of society about the effects of alcohol on the human body and the possible risk of cancer will help many people to give up alcohol or significantly reduce its consumption. Do not forget that in everything and always there should be a measure! Alcohol is one of the main causes, or, in other words, a concomitant factor, of many chronic diseases, which quite often develop into malignant cancerous tumors of various organs.
ANTI-CANCER PLATE
The famous doctor managed to put in his book almost the entire world experience
prevention of a dangerous disease. We have compiled the rules of nutrition and life
<<по мотивам>> best-selling book by David Servan-Schreiber, renowned physician,
who managed to put in his book<<Антирак>> almost the entire world
experience in disease prevention
Just don't be afraid of the word<<рак>> in the title! With the same success
eating tips (see below) could be called anti-diabetes,
anti-heart attack, anti-stroke and anti-overweight.
But what can you do: 15 years ago, neurologist David Servan-Schreiber
accidentally discovered that he had cancer...
And I felt it in my own skin: only medical methods
treatment for the victory over the sore is not enough. Dedicated to finding
natural cancer prevention. After all, everyone has cancer cells.
But not everyone gets cancer.
For example, food! It turns out that quite traditional dishes of different nations
can save you from cancer. Because it lowers blood sugar
or fight inflammation, due to which, it turns out,<<кормится>>
tumor. Are there foods that make cancer cells...
commit suicide! (The most useful - see Anti-cancer plate).
At the same time, there is food-the enemy, which is better to refuse.
Evidence-based medicine does not study the medicinal properties of food one by one.
the only reason: food, unlike medicine, cannot be
patent.
- To the prevention of food and the right way of life, oncologists,
Of course, they can be skeptical, says Pavel, a diagnostician.
Tkachuk. - But there is world experience: for example, in Japan, women are much less
suffer from breast cancer. And in Europe and America now a whole
an epidemic of this cancer...
ANTI-CANCER PLATE
The main defenders against oncology: 1. Green tea. Brew 10 minutes
drink within an hour. 2-3 cups per day.
2. Olive oil. Better than cold pressed, 1 tablespoon per day.
3. Turmeric. Add to dishes in combination with black pepper, otherwise not
digested. A pinch a day is enough. Has similar properties
ginger.
4. Cherry, raspberry, blueberry, blackberry, blueberry, cranberry. Can
frozen, you can fresh, the quantity is not limited.
5. Plum, peaches, apricots (all<<косточковые>>). According to the most
recent studies help no worse than berries.
6. Vegetables of the cruciferous family: broccoli, cauliflower and other types
cabbage. It is advisable not to boil, but to bake or cook in a double boiler.
Can be raw.
7. Garlic, all kinds of onions. 1 head or half a small one is enough
bulbs. Better in combination with olive oil, you can slightly
fry.
8. Mushrooms. There is evidence for champignons and oyster mushrooms, as well as
various types of Japanese mushrooms.
9. Dark chocolate with more than 70% cocoa. Just not dairy!
10. Tomatoes. Precisely boiled, better with olive oil.
How to build your nutrition
EXCLUDED FROM THE DIET:
(These products<<питают>> cancer cells) Sugar (white and brown).
Bread. Especially white rolls, all pastries from the store, white rice, strongly
boiled pasta. Potatoes and especially mashed potatoes.
Corn and other types of CRISPY flakes. Jams, syrups, jams.
Soda, industrial juices. Alcohol outside meals, especially
strong. Margarine and hydrogenated fats. (We love them
add to butter) Industrial dairy products (from cows,
who ate corn and soy). French fries, chips, pizza,
hot dogs and other fast food. Red meat, poultry skin, eggs (If chickens,
pigs and cows were raised on corn and soy, injected with hormones and
antibiotics). The peel of store-bought vegetables and fruits (in it
pesticides accumulate). Tap water. water from plastic
bottles heated in the sun.
LOOK ON: Coconut sugar, acacia honey. The author also mentions
agave syrup. Products made from mixed cereals and wholemeal flour: bread
rye, dark rice and basmati, oats, barley, buckwheat, flax seeds.
Lentils, beans, the author mentions sweet potato - sweet potato. Muesli,
oatmeal. fresh berries (see<<Главные защитники от онкологии>>) Home
lemonade, tea with thyme, citrus peel. A glass of RED wine a day
while eating. olive oil, flaxseed,<<Натуральные>> dairy
products (The animal ate grass). Olives, cherry tomatoes. Vegetables.
Fish,
just not large: mackerel, mackerel, sardines, salmon.<<Экологичное>>
meat and eggs (animals were not injected with hormones). Peeled vegetables
and fruitsFiltered water, mineral water, preferably from GLASS
bottles.
HARMFUL AND USEFUL CHEMISTRY
IT IS BETTER TO REJECT THIS: 1. Deodorants and antiperspirants with
aluminum. 2. Cosmetics with parabens and phthalates: see the label
shampoos, varnishes, foams, hair dyes, nail polish,
sunscreen. Cosmetics with hormones (estrogens) and
placenta. 3. Industrial means from insects and rodents. 4.
Plastic tableware with PVC, polystyrene and styrofoam (Precisely
You can't heat up food in it. 5. Teflon pans with damaged
coated. 6. Cleaners and detergents, toilet capsules with
ACRYLIC. 7. Dry cleaning of clothes and
underwear. 8. Perfume (they contain phthalates).
REPLACE WITH: 1. Natural aluminum-free deodorants. Search in pharmacies
specialized stores. 2. Natural cosmetics
free of parabens and phthalates (see specialized stores). 3. Funds
based on essential oils, boric acid. 4. Ceramic or
glassware. 5. Cookware without Teflon coating or with
undamaged coating. 6. Environmentally friendly detergents and cleaners
products, including washing powders (look for specialized
stores, popular Japanese and Korean
household items). 7. If you use dry cleaning, ventilate
linen in the air for at least an hour.
A recent study in the field of cancer showed that alcohol abuse increases the risk of developing and becomes the main cause of the appearance of malignant tumors in more than 4% of cases. Alcohol in prostate cancer further exacerbates the situation, reducing the effectiveness of medical and surgical treatment.
Is there a relationship between alcohol and prostate cancer?
The effect of alcohol on prostate cancer has been well studied. Doctors were able to understand the mechanism of action of alcohol. Regardless of the strength of the alcoholic beverage, the effect on the patient's body is approximately the same and is as follows:- Ethanol is converted during the body's metabolism into acetaldehyde, a toxic carcinogen. The element leads to DNA damage, mutation at the cellular level. The use of alcohol in prostate cancer provokes an accelerated process of an oncological tumor, supplying the elements necessary for its growth.
- Alcohol reduces tissue metabolism - the ability of internal organs to absorb vitamins of groups A, C, D, E and carotenoids worsens. The lack of elements necessary for health leads to the appearance of stagnation, the inability of the body to recover on its own.
- The level of estrogen rises. The influence of some types of alcohol on the development of prostate cancer is associated with a high content of plant and synthetic forms of the female hormone. Studies have shown that excess estrogen increases the likelihood and rate of cancer by 15-20%.
Proponents of alcohol use give several arguments in defense of their habit:
- Strong drinks slow down the development of a cancerous tumor. In fact, there are no elements in alcohol of any kind that can become a deterrent to distribution. Alcohol enters the bloodstream and directly into the prostate already in the form of processed elements. It settles in cells in the form of acetaldehyde, causing a crushing blow to already damaged tissues.
- Alcohol is a good pain reliever. Any alcoholic beverages reduce stress, pain threshold. Surgeons until the beginning of the 20th century used whiskey and brandy for pain relief during abdominal operations.
Studies have shown that alcohol contains substances that intoxicate the mind. Relief when taking alcohol is associated with this action. But in fact, in fact, the intoxicating effect only hides the problem, but does not cure the disease.
It is recommended, if not a complete rejection of alcohol in general, then at least the reduction of consumption to a minimum. Caregivers and families can help the patient realize that this habit is hurting them and negating the benefits of medication and hormone therapy.
Alcoholic drinks - pros and cons
Drinking alcohol in moderation is allowed during prostate adenoma - a benign tumor at an early stage of the disease. After transformation into cancer, even small doses of drinks significantly aggravate the patient's health.If the patient cannot completely give up wine, beer, vodka, cognac, whiskey, then at least he should reduce their use to a safe daily allowance: two servings with an alcohol content of 13-14 grams.
The effect of alcoholic beverages on prostate cancer, incompatibility with certain drugs, including most painkillers, and immune suppression are all compelling reasons to reduce their use.
Wine and prostate cancer
Another argument is made in defense of alcohol consumption. Dry red wine is included in the diet of the inhabitants of the Mediterranean, who, according to statistics, practically do not suffer from prostate cancer. There is indeed a certain amount of truth in this statement. Red wine for prostate cancer promotes a rush of blood to the damaged area, which leads to a decrease in congestion. Moderate consumption of the drink leads to the strengthening of blood vessels and the normalization of the cardiovascular system. In this case, white wines have the opposite effect. The positive effect is observed only when taking a red grape product with a low alcohol content in the drink.
You can drink dry red wine no more than 1 glass - 50-60 ml per day. Drinks with the addition of herbs, aromatic fillers, made from plums, berries, etc. will not work. It is better to refuse cheap varieties of wine with a lot of fusel oils.
Red wine can have a negative effect on prostate cancer if consumed in excess. Unprocessed ethanol, unable to leave the body during metabolism, causes the destruction of healthy cells.
Strong alcoholic drinks for prostate cancer (vodka, cognac, whiskey)
Drinking strong alcohol is prohibited. If in the case of moderate consumption of red wine, there are at least some justifications and positive aspects, then regular intake: vodka, skate, brandy is similar to direct poisoning of the prostate.Of course, if you drink once every few months and do it within the limit of the alcohol norm (1-2 servings), the condition will not become critical, but regular intake of strong drinks will invariably lead to trouble, for several reasons:
- Carcinogens left from alcohol are excreted from the body slowly and tend to accumulate.
- Medicines in combination with strong drinks become toxic and cause allergic reactions, up to anaphylactic shock.
Statistics show a direct relationship between the effectiveness of treatment and alcohol consumption. The chances of recovery in patients who completely give up alcoholic beverages increase by 15-20%.
Beer for prostate cancer
Another type of alcohol contraindicated in prostate cancer is beer. Despite the seeming harmlessness, taking even a small amount of a drink leads to serious consequences caused by the following:- Even non-alcoholic beer contains elements that are chemically similar to estrogen. Long-term intake of beer leads to the appearance of female sexual characteristics in a man: breast enlargement, the appearance of fat deposits on the hips and abdomen, and sexual dysfunction. The imbalance of hormones in prostate cancer is extremely dangerous.
- The development of addiction. In EU countries, people suffer from beer alcoholism indiscriminately. It turns out that getting addicted to this drink is even easier than vodka. Refusing a “glass” of a drink, even in the face of the threat of death, becomes a real problem for a person.
- Beer causes inflammation in the prostate gland.
A limited dose of alcohol - red wine or spirits "on holidays" during the non-aggravation period is acceptable. But alcohol abuse is dangerous.
In addition, there is conflicting information about the relationship between alcohol intake and bladder cancer, lung cancer and stomach cancer.
The most embarrassing and unexpected claim in the report was that even moderate and small doses of alcohol cause and/or promote the development of cancer. In a meta-analysis of 222 studies that included 92,000 moderate alcohol drinkers with cancer and 60,000 no-alcohol drinkers with cancer, moderate alcohol consumption was shown to increase the risk of oropharyngeal cancer, squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus, and breast cancer. This meta-analysis also estimated that in 2004 moderate alcohol consumption was responsible for 5,000 oropharyngeal cancer deaths, 24,000 esophageal squamous cell carcinoma deaths, and 5,000 breast cancer deaths globally in 2004. It should also be noted that moderate alcohol consumption was not associated with colon and rectal cancer, liver cancer, and laryngeal cancer in this meta-analysis.
However, despite the high quality of this meta-analysis, it still has one weakness: “moderate” or “excessive” alcohol consumption of the respondents was assessed by the respondents themselves, and although they were given clear criteria for difference, they still may have underestimated or knowingly underestimate this figure. The tendency of participants in such studies to unconsciously or consciously underestimate their degree of adherence to alcohol is a scientifically proven fact. This can lead to misconceptions about the association of low doses of alcohol with the development of cancer, when in fact this type of cancer is provoked by much higher doses.
Where does the increased risk come from?
The biological mechanisms that mediate the association of cancer with alcohol are not fully understood. Alcoholic beverages typically contain at least 15 carcinogenic compounds, including acetaldehyde, acrylamide, aflatoxins, arsenic, benzene, cadmium, ethanol, ethyl carbamate, formaldehyde, and lead. Ethanol is the most important carcinogen in alcoholic beverages, and its rate of metabolism is determined by genetic mechanisms.
The first and most toxic product of alcohol metabolism is acetaldehyde. Ethanol that enters the body is oxidized by the enzymes alcohol dehydrogenase, cytochrome P4502E1, and catalase to form acetaldehyde. This metabolite is carcinogenic and genotoxic upon contact with the mucosa of the upper respiratory tract (pharynx, oral cavity, esophagus, larynx), where high concentrations of acetaldehyde cause mucosal hyperproliferation.
There are also indirect mechanisms by which alcohol contributes to malignant tumors. For example, alcohol is a folic acid antagonist, and by disrupting the absorption and metabolism of folic acid, it impairs DNA methylation. In breast cancer, alcohol can increase estrogen levels and the activity of insulin-like growth factor receptors, which in turn stimulate cancer cell proliferation. There are also other mechanisms that are mediated by the production of reactive oxygen species (oxygen ions, free radicals and peroxides) and reactive nitrogen species (peroxynitrite, etc.), as well as the role of alcohol as a solvent for tobacco carcinogens.
The bitter truth about strong alcoholic beverages
Type of alcohol: wine, beer, spirits - usually does not affect the risk of developing cancer, but esophageal cancer is an exception. The esophagus is lined with very small cilia that are easily destroyed by high concentrations of ethanol, such as those found in strong alcoholic beverages.
Alcohol and smoking
Combining smoking and drinking is considered by many people to be an enjoyable and acceptable activity. Smoking has long been known to be a risk factor for cancer. However, a significant increase in the carcinogenic effect of tobacco smoking with alcohol was found in relation to the risk of developing cancer of the mouth, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus; the highest risks were observed in heavy smokers and alcoholics. There was also a dose-dependent effect, especially noticeable in terms of the level of proliferation of the mucosa of the esophagus. Abstaining from cigarettes and alcohol can prevent up to 80% of oral cancers and up to 90% of laryngeal cancers.
But doesn't alcohol have a protective effect on the cardiovascular system?
Alcohol is a double-edged sword. Two decades ago, studies of the "French paradox" began to appear in the medical literature. It turned out that the doses of alcohol from minimal to moderate have a cardioprotective effect. Some observational studies have shown that the French, who had the highest levels of alcohol (particularly wine) consumption, had the lowest rates of cardiovascular disease.
To people far from medicine, this study could seem like a kind of “indulgence” for drunkenness, although other studies clearly indicated that the reduction in the risk of developing diabetes, stroke, heart failure, and overall mortality does not pay off the enormous harm that causes the body human chronic alcohol abuse. In particular, alcohol abuse provokes hypertension, atrial fibrillation, ischemic and hemorrhagic stroke, and non-ischemic dilated cardiomyopathy.
The evidence for the harmful effects of alcohol is much stronger than the evidence for its beneficial effects. In addition, the benefit-risk ratio of alcohol use changes dramatically in favor of the risk in young people, since they are the ones most likely to suffer the negative consequences of acute alcohol intoxication (accidents, violence, and social problems). As a result, in the age category of men from 15 to 59 years, alcohol abuse is the leading risk factor for premature death.
Risk factor correction
Alcohol use is regarded as a modifiable risk factor for cancer. Physicians are encouraged to discuss this risk factor with patients and encourage them to reduce their exposure. How important is moderate alcohol consumption compared to all other risk factors for cancer? Is it worth the time and effort trying to convince patients to reduce their alcohol consumption, or is the game not worth the candle? Dr. Rehm explains: "We still don't know what causes 60% of cancers, but people can reliably reduce their risk of cancer by reducing alcohol consumption."
Dr. Pekka Puska, former director general of the Finnish National Institute of Health and Welfare and co-author of the WCR report, responded to this question: “Physicians should be aware of the risks of alcohol consumption and inform their patients about it, if necessary. However, for most patients, especially the elderly, moderate alcohol consumption does not significantly increase the risk, and therefore should not be pressured into avoiding alcohol completely. But with patients who have diseases that are directly aggravated by alcohol, doctors must be very firm, and strongly recommend to them specific suggestions and ways to completely abandon alcohol.”
People often want to know how much they can drink without much harm to the body, what dose of alcohol is not dangerous. "There is no absolutely safe dose of alcohol consumption", says Dr. Rem. "Drinking any dose of alcohol inevitably carries some risk, and this risk increases with the dose of alcohol."
Ministry of Health warns: alcohol is dangerous for your health
Alcohol is not an ordinary consumer product. The sale of alcohol requires clear regulation by public policy, special taxation, and the creation of a service sector to combat the damage it causes. This leads to the fact that the interests of public health and the interests of the alcohol industry are sharply different. The authors of the WCR report propose some forms of alcohol policy aimed at public health interests.
Dr. Puska says: "The prevalence of alcohol abuse is closely related to the general level of alcohol consumption in the population." Therefore, he believes that restrictions should apply not only to risk groups for alcoholism, but also to all other alcohol consumers.
Dr. Rehm insists that bottles of alcohol carry warning labels to remind them of the cancer risk associated with drinking any alcohol. Some countries have already introduced such warning labels, but they usually contain information only about the dangers of alcohol for pregnant women. Warning labels should explain the risks associated with alcohol consumption in a language that the average person can understand.
Reducing the availability of alcohol through pricing and taxation can reduce the amount of alcohol consumed, and thus alcohol-related health and social harms, including the risk of cancer and premature death.
Dr. Puska explains: “The risks associated with alcohol are not limited to cancer. Alcohol is linked to many other health problems. However, such a strong emphasis on the carcinogenic effect of alcohol, the creation of a separate report devoted to it, is due to the fact that such a clear relationship between alcohol consumption and the development of cancer is news to most people. We want to draw attention to this side of the problem and fill the existing knowledge gap. Of course, when we talk about alcohol-related problems with a particular patient, we will discuss not only the risks of malignant tumors, but the whole panorama of problems in general.