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Alcohol use: Why moderation is key
Can alcohol benefit your health? It depends on how much you drink.
By Mayo Clinic staffYou've likely heard to drink in moderation, but what does that mean? And why is moderation important?
Moderate alcohol use seems to offer some health benefits, particularly for the heart. But too much alcohol raises the stakes, putting you at risk of adverse health consequences.
Whether you drink is up to you and your doctor. But here are some points on alcohol consumption to consider.
Benefits of moderation
Moderate drinking is defined as two drinks a day if you're a male 65 and younger, or one drink a day if you're a female or a male 66 and older. A drink is defined as 12 ounces (355 milliliters) of beer, 5 ounces (148 milliliters) of wine or 1.5 ounces (44 milliliters) of 80-proof distilled spirits.
Moderate alcohol consumption may provide some health benefits. It may:
- Reduce your risk of developing heart disease, peripheral vascular disease and intermittent claudication
- Reduce your risk of dying of a heart attack
- Possibly reduce your risk of strokes, particularly ischemic strokes
- Lower your risk of gallstones
- Possibly reduce your risk of diabetes
Risks of excessive drinking
Though moderate alcohol use seems to have some health benefits, anything more than moderate drinking can negate any potential benefits. Be cautious because excessive alcohol consumption can lead to serious health problems, including:
- Cancer of the pancreas, mouth, pharynx, larynx, esophagus and liver, as well as breast cancer
- Pancreatitis, especially in people with high levels of triglycerides in their blood
- Sudden death in people with cardiovascular disease
- Heart muscle damage (alcoholic cardiomyopathy) leading to heart failure
- Stroke
- High blood pressure
- Cirrhosis of the liver
- Miscarriage
- Fetal alcohol syndrome in an unborn child, including impaired growth and nervous system development
- Injuries due to impaired motor skills
- Suicide
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