Cancers, cirrhosis of the liver, hypertension, memory loss, brain hemorrhage, nervous system disease, mental, cardiovascular disorders, and so on. Alcohol does a lot of damage. If the list of these consequences is already long, there is a new direct effect of its excessive consumption.
A new study carried out on April 1, by researchers from University College London (UCL) in England, looked at the association between overconsumption of alcoholic beverages and a series of health indicators, including diseases cardiovascular. "Previous studies have focused on unique moments and moments of consumption, which may mask the cumulative effects of alcohol consumption. This study raises awareness of the effects of alcohol consumption throughout life"said Dr. Linda Ng Fat, author of the study.
To carry it out, the scientists followed 4,820 adults aged 59 to 83 years. The average age of the participants was 69 years and 75% were men. Respondents were assessed on their habits and their alcohol consumption from the test "Alcohol Use Disorder Identification Test for Consumption (AUDIT-C)", a screening tool for general practitioners. It identifies disorders related to alcohol consumption. This test consists of three questions and estimates the frequency with which the person drinks, the quantity of alcohol consumed and the frequency of excess (six drinks or more).
"Current and regular heavy drinkers are mainly men"
The participants carried out AUDIT-C at one time for each decade of their life, from 16-19 years to 80 years and over. These data were then used to categorize their lifestyle during their lifetime into different categories. The results, published in journal Addiction, reveal that more than half of drinkers aged 59 and over, or 56%, have been "dangerous drinkers" at some point in their life, 21% are "current dangerous drinkers" and 5% "regular dangerous drinkers".
Another finding of the study: "the current and regular heavy drinkers are mainly men, mainly white, and likely to occupy high level positions". "Alcohol abuse, despite the common perception of heavy drinking among young people, is common among older adults, alcohol-related hospital admissions in England are higher among adults over the age of 50 "says Dr. Linda Ng Fat.
The health consequences of alcohol
Study also indicates that high alcohol consumption throughout life is associated with higher blood pressure, lower liver function, increased risk of stroke and mass index higher (BMI) at a later age, even if you stop drinking heavily before the age of 50. "However, stopping excessive drinking at some point in one's life is likely to be beneficial for general health", specify the authors.
Alcohol: overconsumption would increase waist circumference
Scientists also observed that the waist size was larger. On average, participants in the "late late dangerous drinkers" category had a waist size 1.17 cm larger than those in the "never dangerous drinkers" category. While the "former early dangerous drinkers", the "current dangerous drinkers" and the "regular dangerous drinkers" were respectively 1.88 cm, 2.44 cm and 3.85 cm taller than those who drank alcohol in moderation.
"This suggests that the longer alcohol users consume a large amount of alcohol, the larger their waistline at older ages. This is why it is beneficial, along with other health benefits, that adults reduce their excessive alcohol consumption sooner than later ", says Dr. Linda Ng Fat.
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