Eulalee Thompson - BE WELL
Alcohol drinking is so intricately woven into our social fabric that alcohol is not always viewed as a substance of abuse and as risky behaviour.
Alcohol use was one of the risk behaviours explored in the lifestyle section of the Jamaica Health and Lifestyle Survey (JHLS) 2007-2008, released on November 20. The JHLS, last released in 2000, provides nationally representative estimates on the burden of and trends in chronic non-communicable diseases and associate them with the lifestyle practices of Jamaicans.
The JHLS 2007-2008 indicates that nearly 75 per cent of Jamaicans report current use of alcohol. The highest current alcohol use among Jamaicans is in the 25 to 34 age group with 83 per cent and decreases to 48 per cent among older people (65 to 74 years old).
Current alcohol consumption is more frequently reported among more educated Jamaican males and females; 74 per cent of those with post-secondary education reported current alcohol use compared to 59 per cent of those whose highest level of education was primary or lower. In contrast, the JHLS 2007-2008 showed that the use of illegal drugs (marijuana, cocaine and crack) is lowest among the most educated.
What's moderate drinking?
Moderate drinking to achieve health benefits is clearly defined by scientists. It is like a prescription, so pay careful attention to the dosage. Moderate drinking is:
1. Two drinks per day if you are a man, 65 years old or younger.
2. One drink per day if you are a woman or a man, 66 years old and older.
Excessive drinking
A drink of alcohol is not just any amount that your heart desires. It is actually defined as 12 ounces (355 millilitres) of beer, five ounces (148 millilitres) of wine or 1.5 ounces (44 millilitres) of 80-proof distilled spirits.
Even with health benefits from moderate drinking, few scientists would recommend that non-drinkers start up a drinking habit just to achieve these benefits. The caution is always to drink moderately or not at all because excessive drinking carries serious health catastrophe. For example, it can cause:
1. Cirrhosis of your liver.
2. High blood pressure and strokes.
3. Damage to your heart muscle, leading to heart failure.
4. Various cancers including of the mouth, throat, pancreas, and breast.
5. Sudden death, especially if you are a patient with cardiovascular disease.
6. Motor vehicle accidents and injuries due to impairment in driving and motor behaviour skills.
7. Foetal distress, and so pregnant women should not drink.
Eulalee Thompson is health editor and a professional counsellor; email: eulalee.thompson@gleanerjm.com.
Man takes drink, drink takes man