Alcohol and Your Health: A Question of Balance

This page was reviewed or revised on Wednesday, June 25, 2008.

0, 2, 9, 14: Who is Counting?

People have a drink to relax, to celebrate, to have fun, to gain confidence and to forget problems, and that makes alcohol one of the most common drugs in Canada.

Alcohol is a drug and a depressant. It slows down the activity of the brain and the central nervous system. In most cases, the body can safely handle about one (1) standard drink per hour. How alcohol affects you is decided by:

• gender (woman or man)
• your size
• your fitness
• how fast you drink
• what you have eaten
• how you feel (tired, stress)

Alcohol is alcohol. Standard drinks (see illustration) have the same alcohol content. No matter the drink, it's all the same to your body.

When we drink sensibly, alcohol is not harmful to most people, but when drinking gets out of control, it can lead to many problems - social, personal and health. And that is just the beginning.

People with certain health conditions should not drink alcohol at all; even small amounts of alcohol could cause problems. If you have a family history of alcoholism, be very careful when it comes to alcohol; you are at risk.

According to the World Health Organization, alcohol is the 3^rd most harmful risk factor for chronic disease (WHO, 2003).

Pros

Moderate alcohol consumption may offer some health benefits. Health benefits of alcohol mainly apply to people over the age of 45 years. A little goes a long way and, in most cases, one (1) drink of beer, wine or liquor every other day is enough.

Cons

More than two (2) drinks a day does more harm than good and undo any benefits alcohol on the body.

• Excess amounts of alcohol can lead to serious health problems:

• Cancer, such as oral, larynx and liver and breast cancer in women

• Elevated levels of triglycerides in the blood

• High blood pressure

• Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD) in an unborn child

• Miscarriage

• Injuries due to impaired motor skills

• Sudden death in people with cardiovascular disease

• Heart failure

• Stroke

• Cirrhosis of the liver

• Suicide

• React with many prescription and OTC medications. Check with your doctor.

Weigh the Evidence

Weigh the pros and cons and make up your own mind. Consult your doctor if you have questions or are unsure. Above all, don't feel pressured to drink.

To Top of Page