April is Alcohol Awareness Month!
Posted on: April 4, 2012Categories: LiveWell 24/7Alcohol Awareness Month is an opportunity to raise awareness of alcohol abuse and encourage people to make healthy, safe choices. The World Health Organization identifies:
“The harmful use of alcohol as a global problem which compromises both individual and social development. It results in 2.5 million deaths each year. Alcohol is the world’s third largest risk factor for premature mortality, disability, and loss of health.”
Excessive consumption of alcohol can cause many negative health effects. “Excessive consumption” means more than two drinks per day for a man under 65 and more than one drink per day for a woman under 65. In the short term, alcohol can significantly depress the central nervous system, lowers inhibitions, impairs speech and reduces muscle coordination. In extreme amounts, alcohol can significantly depress the vital centers of the brain. If you drink excessively on a regular basis, you may experience fatigue, short term memory loss, and many other adverse side effects, including:
- Liver disorders
- Gastrointestinal problems
- Cardiovascular problems
- Diabetes complications
- Sexual dysfunction and irregular menstruation
- Birth defects
- Bone Loss
- Neurological complications
- Increased Cancer risks
In addition to health risks of excessive consumption, alcohol abuse is also linked to:
- Domestic abuse and divorce
- Poor performance at work and school
- Higher risk of motor vehicle crashes and drunk driving
- Greater likelihood of other injuries as a result of being impaired by alcohol.
- Higher incidence of suicide
For more information on alcohol abuse and where to go for help, please visit:
Center for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov/Features/AlcoholAwareness/
National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence: http://www.ncadd.org/
Alcoholics Anonymous: www.aa.org/
share:
