Check Yourself: Alcohol Disease Risks and the Mortality Rates Associated with Your Level of Drinking
Based on your current level of drinking, find out your risk for certain cancers, cirrhosis, heart attack and stroke (and remember, if you’re still reasonably healthy, you can reduce your risks dramatically by curbing heavy drinking.)
Check your alcohol disease risks.
Want to stay healthy and happy and fit into old age? Well, there aren't any guarantees, but in general, by taking care today, you stay well tomorrow. To check yourself, consider the disease and death rates associated with varying levels of alcohol consumption. Are you satisfied with your level of risk, or should you make some changes?
Note – though thinking about early death, cancer, alcoholic liver disease, and alcoholic heart disease can be upsetting, remember, if you’re still healthy you still have time to change and protect yourself from debilitating disease.
Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Disease and Death
Based on data from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration’s (SAMHSA’s) Tip 35.1
Heart Disease Death Rate (for Men and Women.)
- If you drink an average of between 0 and 17 drinks per week your risk of heart disease death is 7 in 1000.
- If you drink an average of between 18 and 38 drinks per week your risk of heart disease death is 9 in 1000.
- If you drink an average of 39 or more drinks per week your risk of heart disease death is 14 in 1000.
Liver Cirrhosis (for Men)
- Non drinkers = a death rate of 1.5 persons/1000.
- Drinking an average of 14 drinks or less per week = a death rate of 1 person/1000.
- Drinking an average of 15 or more drinks per week = a death rate of 5.5/1000.
All Cancers (for Men)
- Drinking an average of 0 to 11 drinks per week = a death rate of 25 people /1000.
- Drinking an average of 12 to 38 drinks per week = a death rate of 40 people/1000.
- Drinking an average of 39 or more drinks per week = a death rate of 120 people/1000.
Breast Cancer (for Women)
- Drinking an average of 0 to 17 drinks per week = a death rate of 10 people/1000.
- Drinking an average of 18 to 38 drinks per week = a death rate of 17/1000.
- Drinking an average of 39 drinks per week or more = a death rate of 16/1000.
Take Home Message
We’ve all heard stories of somebody’s grandfather who drank a 6 pack a day and lived to 100 – but the truth is, heavy drinking most often shortens a lifespan – sometimes dramatically.
If you drink too much, think about how much your habit gives and how much it takes, and if you’re not willing to give up years of your life for your habit, then take action now and make a change for the better.
References
Editor’s picks
Shame after Drinking - Why You Feel So Low the Next Morning
Morning after drinking guilt and shame - why do you feel so low that next morning and what can you do about it?
It's Never Too Late for Help: Alcohol Abuse and The Elderly
Estimates put the number of alcohol dependent seniors in the millions, and only a fraction of these are getting the help they need. For a number of reasons, alcohol abuse in the elderly often goes undiagnosed; and too often, elderly alcoholics are never presented with the treatment options that could greatly improve their health and quality of life. Old age is not a valid reason for self destructive drinking, and families do not offer kindness to older relatives when they attempt to spare them the pain and difficulty of addictions treatment. The elderly deserve the same access to treatment as the rest of the population, and since alcohol is especially debilitating to older bodies, the time for any needed treatment is now.
Wet Brain – Alcoholism and Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
Long years of heavy drinking may lead to a thiamine deficiency, and a syndrome known as Wernicke-Korsakoff (wet brain). Much of the brain damage experienced is unfortunately irreversible.
Alcoholism: Why Some Become Drunks ...and Others Don't
Why can some people drink heavily and never become alcoholics when other people get addicted so quickly?
AA and Terminal Uniqueness - Are You As Unique As You Think You Are?
A lot of people attend a single AA meeting and dismiss the group as "full of people that have nothing in common with me". 12 steppers call this phenomenon terminal uniqueness. It's very common, and it's usually completely false.