When it comes to smoking, the verdict is clear, avoid it at all costs. Alcohol, however, has long existed in a grey area. While most of us know that excessive drinking is dangerous, many still wonder: is the occasional glass of wine truly harmless? According to doctors, the answer is a resounding no. Just like smoking, alcohol poses risks at every level, no amount is truly safe.
Dr Sewanti Limaye, Director of Medical & Precision Oncology at Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, recently spoke to journalist Faye D’Souza about alcohol’s impact on the human body. Her insights paint a sobering picture.
How Alcohol Harms the Body
Dr Limaye explains that the human body converts alcohol into harmful substances during its breakdown process. One of these, acetaldehyde, is highly toxic. It damages DNA and disrupts normal cellular processes. Over time, these disruptions reduce the body’s ability to detect and destroy abnormal cells, increasing the risk of cancer. Alcohol also affects nutrient absorption and weakens the immune system, further compromising the body’s natural defences.
Prolonged alcohol consumption wreaks havoc on three key organs: the liver, pancreas, and brain. Chronic drinking inflames the liver, often leading to cirrhosis and permanent tissue damage. The pancreas can develop inflammation, known as pancreatitis, which disrupts blood sugar control and increases the risk of diabetes. Meanwhile, the brain suffers lasting consequences: mood swings, memory problems, impaired coordination, and even neurological disorders.
Alcohol and Cancer Risks
Alcohol consumption increases cancer risk at every level, with breast cancer being a major concern. Dr Limaye highlights that research shows even moderate drinking raises a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. Worldwide studies, including reports from the American Cancer Society, confirm that no amount of alcohol is risk-free.
What Research Shows
A 2023 study in The Lancet demonstrated that consuming even a single alcoholic drink increases disease risk and shortens life expectancy. According to 2016 global statistics, alcohol contributed to three million deaths worldwide. Research consistently shows that health risks start with the first drink, making total abstinence the safest choice.
Busting the Myths
Some believe that a glass of wine can protect the heart or extend life. Experts, including the World Health Organization (WHO), have debunked this idea. Any purported benefits are outweighed by risks, and studies claiming protective effects often suffer from methodological flaws and biases. The 2023 WHO report confirms that every drink contributes to health hazards, including cancer, heart disease, and brain damage.
Beyond Cancer: The Full Impact
Alcohol affects virtually every system in the body. It weakens the immune system, leaving the body vulnerable to infections. The brain is particularly sensitive; alcohol disrupts neural pathways, impairing decision-making, slowing responses, destabilising mood, and causing lasting cognitive damage.
The heart is another major casualty. Heavy drinking weakens heart muscles, increasing the risk of heart failure and stroke. Damage to the pancreas worsens diabetes control and metabolic health. Altogether, these effects make alcohol one of the leading lifestyle risks to human health, cutting short lives in ways that start with the very first drink.
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice.
Dr Sewanti Limaye, Director of Medical & Precision Oncology at Sir H. N. Reliance Foundation Hospital, recently spoke to journalist Faye D’Souza about alcohol’s impact on the human body. Her insights paint a sobering picture.
How Alcohol Harms the Body
Dr Limaye explains that the human body converts alcohol into harmful substances during its breakdown process. One of these, acetaldehyde, is highly toxic. It damages DNA and disrupts normal cellular processes. Over time, these disruptions reduce the body’s ability to detect and destroy abnormal cells, increasing the risk of cancer. Alcohol also affects nutrient absorption and weakens the immune system, further compromising the body’s natural defences.
Prolonged alcohol consumption wreaks havoc on three key organs: the liver, pancreas, and brain. Chronic drinking inflames the liver, often leading to cirrhosis and permanent tissue damage. The pancreas can develop inflammation, known as pancreatitis, which disrupts blood sugar control and increases the risk of diabetes. Meanwhile, the brain suffers lasting consequences: mood swings, memory problems, impaired coordination, and even neurological disorders.
Alcohol and Cancer Risks
Alcohol consumption increases cancer risk at every level, with breast cancer being a major concern. Dr Limaye highlights that research shows even moderate drinking raises a woman’s risk of developing breast cancer. Worldwide studies, including reports from the American Cancer Society, confirm that no amount of alcohol is risk-free.
What Research Shows
A 2023 study in The Lancet demonstrated that consuming even a single alcoholic drink increases disease risk and shortens life expectancy. According to 2016 global statistics, alcohol contributed to three million deaths worldwide. Research consistently shows that health risks start with the first drink, making total abstinence the safest choice.
Busting the Myths
Some believe that a glass of wine can protect the heart or extend life. Experts, including the World Health Organization (WHO), have debunked this idea. Any purported benefits are outweighed by risks, and studies claiming protective effects often suffer from methodological flaws and biases. The 2023 WHO report confirms that every drink contributes to health hazards, including cancer, heart disease, and brain damage.
Beyond Cancer: The Full Impact
Alcohol affects virtually every system in the body. It weakens the immune system, leaving the body vulnerable to infections. The brain is particularly sensitive; alcohol disrupts neural pathways, impairing decision-making, slowing responses, destabilising mood, and causing lasting cognitive damage.
The heart is another major casualty. Heavy drinking weakens heart muscles, increasing the risk of heart failure and stroke. Damage to the pancreas worsens diabetes control and metabolic health. Altogether, these effects make alcohol one of the leading lifestyle risks to human health, cutting short lives in ways that start with the very first drink.
This article is for informational purposes only and should not be considered a substitute for professional medical advice.
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