In an advisory issued Friday, the U.S. Surgeon General warned Americans about the cancer risks associated with alcohol consumption. Urged implementation of updated health warning labels on alcoholic beverages to increase public awareness.
US Surgeon General Vivek Murthy Noting that the link between alcohol and cancer has been recognized since the 1980s, mounting evidence highlights the risks. However, current mandatory warning labels do not adequately communicate health risks.
“Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer that is responsible for nearly 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths in the U.S. each year – as many as in alcohol-related traffic accidents in the U.S. each year.” More than 13,500 deaths,” Vivek Murthy said, CNN reported.
“Yet the majority of Americans are unaware of this threat,” he added.
Increased risk of at least seven types of cancer.
According to the US Surgeon General’s Office, after tobacco and obesity, alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of cancer in the United States.
The report highlights a well-established link between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of at least seven types of cancer: breast, colorectal, esophageal, liver, oral, throat and laryngeal. Specifically, alcohol is responsible for 16.4 percent of all breast cancer cases.
According to the report, A 2019 study revealed Only 45 percent of Americans recognized alcohol as a risk factor for cancer, compared to radiation exposure (91 percent), tobacco use (89 percent), asbestos exposure (81 percent) and obesity (53 percent). Awareness was significantly higher. percentage).
Recent scientific findings have challenged the belief that certain alcoholic beverages, such as red wine, provide health benefits, instead emphasizing the overall health risks associated with alcohol consumption.
‘Moderate drinking linked to cancer risk’
A December report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine found that although moderate alcohol consumption — up to two drinks per day for men and one for women — may be associated with a lower risk of heart disease, It is also attached. For increased risk of certain cancers.
The current warning label, established in 1988, mentions only pregnancy-related birth defects, that “women should not drink alcoholic beverages during pregnancy because of the risk of birth defects” and that “alcohol Drinking affects your ability to drive or operate machinery, and can cause health problems,” the Associated Press reported.
The Surgeon General’s Office emphasized that moderate alcohol consumption – one drink or less per day – can trigger breast, mouth and throat cancer risks. He also noted that individual cancer risk varies based on biological and environmental factors.
The advisory challenges current US dietary recommendations that set a daily limit of two drinks for men and one for women. A related statistic shows that 17 percent Alcohol-related cancer deaths occur in those who adhere to these recommended limits, indicating the need to re-evaluate these guidelines.
How does alcohol cause cancer?
Research shows that alcohol contributes to cancer through the following mechanisms.
- Formation of Acetaldehyde:
- Alcohol metabolizes into acetaldehyde, a compound that binds to DNA and damages it.
- Damaged DNA can lead to uncontrolled cell growth leading to cancerous tumors.
- Oxidative stress:
- Alcohol produces reactive oxygen species, causing oxidative stress.
- This process damages DNA, proteins and lipids, increasing inflammation and the risk of cancer.
- Hormonal disruption:
- Alcohol alters hormone levels, especially estrogen, which is associated with a higher risk of breast cancer.
- Absorption of carcinogens:
- Alcohol acts as a solvent for carcinogens, such as tobacco smoke particles, making it easier for the body to absorb them.
- It increases the risk of mouth and throat cancer.