Surgeon General Warns of Connection Between Alcohol Use and Cancer

[Anonymous]

I am thinking of the poster who was not sure how to get through NYE without alcohol...

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:There are many ways that alcohol can cause cancer. Some of the main ways are:

Damage to cells. When we drink alcohol, our bodies turn it into a chemical, called acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde can damage our cells and can also stop cells from repairing this damage.

Changes to hormones. Alcohol can increase the levels of some hormones in our bodies such as oestrogen and insulin. Hormones are chemical messengers, and higher levels of oestrogen and insulin can make cells divide more often. This increases the chance that cancer will develop.

Changes to cells in the mouth and throat. Alcohol can make it easier for cells in the mouth and throat to absorb harmful chemicals that cause damage.

Remember, it’s the alcohol itself that damages your body, even small amounts. It doesn’t matter whether you drink beer, wine or spirits. All types of alcohol can cause cancer.
Cancerresearchuk

These are the exact broad conclusions that haven’t actually been substantiated when adjusted for dosage. For example, it is preposterous that wine would present the same risk for mouth/throat cancer as whiskey. If that were the case then, a beverage with 0.5% alcohol would also be just as risky.

The current slant is extremely misleading.

The biggest thing about alcohol is that it’s sugar calories, no matter the concentration or pace of drinking.

But the toxicity of alcohol, as with all/most toxins varies greatly based on concentration, amount, duration of exposure, etc etc.

That is really dumb.

One shot of whiskey has the equivalent alcohol content as one glass of wine. People don’t drink the same amounts by volume so your comparison is ridiculous. Less alcohol is less risky. Why can’t you grasp that very simple concept?

No, it’s not really dumb. The whole point is that the concentration of the alcohol and the length of time it takes to consume it absolutely has an impact on the potential for cancer/damage to organs/mucous membranes.

The alcohol content drives the calories, with some variables for other ingredients. But the concentration of alcohol and the time allowed for the body to process it matters for all things other than the calories.

You, and all of the coverage of this issue, ignore this blatant and accepted fact of how the body processes substances.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I think alcohol will be my generations smoking. The more data that comes out it’s pretty bad. While I agree that the stuff in food is also bad for you, that doesn’t give alcohol a pass. Also if I overeat on treats, etc, my Fitbit doesn’t really show a difference in my stats for the day. If I have even one glass of wine (I am a very occasional drinker—maybe 1-2 times per month), my resting heart rate goes up 4-5 bpm which is big jump for me, and my heart rate variability takes a complete nose dive. That alone has been enough for me to curb a lot.

Me too- I always comment on how my Fitbit knows when I had even 1 glass of wine.

[Anonymous]

I’m sorry, this does not make much sense. The read the book Emperor of All Maladies (highly recommend!), and cancer is relatively new and evolving. People drink far less now than in times when cancer rates were much lower. A lot of theory behind cancer being more prevalent is because people live longer and aging cells tend to become more prone to cancer. That is not to say alcohol is good, but maybe this is correlation and not causation.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:All alcoholics are feeling defensive.

I drink alcohol about 4-5 times per year. And I find this new emphasis and the surgeon general's new pronouncement that no alcohol is safe to be beyond suspect. I have thought for the last year or so that this increased emphasis just didn't add up, including on this forum.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People loved their cigarettes also.

I did love my cigarettes and still think of them fondly. Like a long lost best friend I wish I could talk to every day. I quit in 2000 ish (?) - when they started banning them in restaurants. I knew they were bad for me but was unable to quit til the government intervened. That’s an annoying realization but true.

Alcohol use though? Sooooo many things bad with it - not just health wise. It ruins lives. Destroys families. Leads to criminal behavior.
So many people think of it like guns - their “right” and prerogative. They don’t see they are addicted and it is destroying society. I’m sure there will be responses to the post saying “ no it’s not, I drink and I’m fine!” But that is just denial. I am glad there is a warning for cancer but seriously that’s not the worst thing about it and I wish it could be banned.

Did you graduate from high school? This is a serious question, the answer to which may or may not explain such an uneducated perspective on the use of alcohol and wanting it banned.

[Anonymous]

When I have any alcohol, my resting heart rate increases for up to two days afterwards. You can see it on Apple Watch. This is just one biomarker. It’s obviously not good for you; really no surprise on the cancer link. I think that if you can control it (big if) you’re probably ok once a month or something. Beyond that, it’s going to be negative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:It's all very well for them to warn about this, but speaking as someone who moved here aged 30, the US is one of the MOST stressful countries in the world to live in with virtually no social safety net, minimal paid vacations, minimal paid leave, lack of universal healthcare, sky high professional expectations, sky high cost of living that does not tally with salaries, lack of access to decent food. Life is hard here. Everyone is on SSRIs and the SSRIs aren't even any good. People aren't drinking just because it's fun and take it or leave it. Most people have a glass of wine or a beer because it provides some kind of respite from what is otherwise a highly stressful life. I disagree that people dont know drinking is not the healthiest choice, but they typically still choose to do it because the alternative is their life just sucks and when they say it sucks they are told to 'journal' or 'be more mindful'.
American society is broken and no one here seems to notice or want to do anything about it. In fact the opposite - they elect people who actively scorn those who want to do something about it. And then tell everyone - your problems and day to day survival are on you, and expect them to have no vices. Insane.

I don’t understand, why don’t you move to Europe then if you’re so miserable in the US? One of our family friends immigrated here from France which has many of the benefits you mentioned and he’s much happier in the US due to having much higher pay, ability to create a nicer lifestyle for himself without severe taxation, doesn’t have to constantly watch people just living off his tax money doing nothing with welfare, doesn’t have to wait 8 months for a doctor’s appt with universal health care, etc. Somehow he’s able to be happy with his family without knocking back drinks every day to cope.
It’s nice that both places like the US and Europe can exist so people can choose what type of lifestyle they want.

To be clear: anyone drinking because they can’t cope simply does not have the initiative to better their own lives or change their situation. There are many ways to do so, and it’s very possible to move to other countries that provide the things you mention.

It’s beyond easy and lazy to say ‘if you don’t like it then move’

Americas biggest weakness is a persistent inability to deal with any kind of external criticism. It’s childish and sophomoric and you wouldn’t accept this behavior from an adult so why from a country.

Any country should be able to look inwards ar what is and is not working compared to others and take valuable lessons for the good of its citizens. That’s how you progress and become great. That’s what separates a civilization and working economy and society from the likes of Afghanistan

Do you even live here? All we ever do is look inward and take in criticism and bury ourselves in criticism. It’s a national pastime.

I don’t think alcohol consumption correlates with the stress of living in the US. It’s about peer groups and social acceptance.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:People loved their cigarettes also.

I did love my cigarettes and still think of them fondly. Like a long lost best friend I wish I could talk to every day. I quit in 2000 ish (?) - when they started banning them in restaurants. I knew they were bad for me but was unable to quit til the government intervened. That’s an annoying realization but true.

Alcohol use though? Sooooo many things bad with it - not just health wise. It ruins lives. Destroys families. Leads to criminal behavior.
So many people think of it like guns - their “right” and prerogative. They don’t see they are addicted and it is destroying society. I’m sure there will be responses to the post saying “ no it’s not, I drink and I’m fine!” But that is just denial. I am glad there is a warning for cancer but seriously that’s not the worst thing about it and I wish it could be banned.

Remember that time in US history when we tried banning alcohol? What was that called….?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I’m sorry, this does not make much sense. The read the book Emperor of All Maladies (highly recommend!), and cancer is relatively new and evolving. People drink far less now than in times when cancer rates were much lower. A lot of theory behind cancer being more prevalent is because people live longer and aging cells tend to become more prone to cancer. That is not to say alcohol is good, but maybe this is correlation and not causation.

Cancer is ancient - even dinosaurs had it. Study and treatment of cancer is what is relatively new.

I agree if you died of TB at 24 or of childbirth at 21, you were probably never diagnosed with cancer. If you're not dying at that young age though, you might want to pay more attention on how to minimize cancer risks, including looking at the role of alcohol.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:In 1988 the surgeon general put out a report telling people to stop eating fat, but to enjoy sugar.

As far as I know they've never withdrawn that report, which killed tens of millions of Americans.


https://downloads.regulations.gov/FDA-2012-N-1210-0002/attachment_100.pdf

+1

Not saying excessive alcohol is ok, but the way some people guzzle down recommendations even when authorities have been proven to be wrong is odd. Like when the AAP told pregnant women to avoid peanuts because of allergies in children, which led directly to a ballooning of rates of peanut allergies in children. Or when Fauci testified that masks and social distancing actually don’t do anything.

I think critical thinking and asking for the data and about the threshold of causation matters. That’s not being anti-science—it’s being pro-science and pro-data.

Also, why isn’t the USG saying anything about plastics, processed foods, endocrine disrupters, etc.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would love to see the studies of the French and Italians.

My French relatives don't drink very much. They certainly don't get drunk.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am thinking of the poster who was not sure how to get through NYE without alcohol...

That poster never said they couldn't get through. Like many people, that poster wanted to enjoy some wine on a night that is traditionally festive and she was staying with weirdos who say they don't drink, then had champagne. In fact, that poster came back and said they didn't drink. Not everyone who enjoys having wine or cocktails at festive events are alcoholics.

[Anonymous]

I don't really buy this.

The deaths because of cancer in my family were all tied to smoking. The drinkers only died in their 80s or 90s of heart attacks or strokes.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:It’s about time they make an announcement about alcohol. Kids go crazy in college drinking and then it continues into their 20s-30s because it is the social thing to do. ‘Let’s get drinks!’ Etc. Yet, it’s the first question the oncologist asks when you initially get diagnosed with cancer. ‘Do you drink and how much?’ Then, ‘Do you smoke?’ So, they have known for decades that there is a link to cancer. Both are rough and unnatural to your body. Just now the U.S. Surgeon General is going to label it.

Younger people are drinking less than previous generations https://time.com/7203140/gen-z-drinking-less-alcohol/