Have you heard this comment from someone
you know? I don't have a problem. I only drink beer or wine on weekends with friends
just to be social, relax, and have a good time.
Social drinking doesn't sound harmful, does it? And some people think drinks
like beer don't really count as alcohol. Unfortunately, neither is true. Did you
know that one 12-ounce bottle of beer, five ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of hard
liquor are all equal to one drink? What is the safe limit? For men, no more than
four drinks per day and for women no more than three drinks a day.
There are
weekly limits too, for men if you have more than 14 drinks total per week
that's too much alcohol. If you are a woman, more than seven drinks in one week
is too much and not good, especially if you have other health problems. But it's
not always a good idea for some people to drink. Did you know that studies show
women who have 3 or more drinks per week have a 15% higher risk of developing
breast cancer? And the more drinks per week, the higher the risk.
For both men
and women, drinking too much can lead to high blood pressure or problems managing
your blood sugar. Over time, alcohol abuse can cause irreversible damage to the
liver. It also changes the way your brain works and can make it difficult for you
to relate to others. People can become dependent on alcohol and may not realize
they have a problem. If you or a loved one has a problem with alcohol abuse,
talk to your doctor..
