Alcohol Consumption Linked to 7 Cancer Types, Warns Surgeon General

[{"selector":"#anim-c123cd9f-50d2-4af2-a534-690dc13ea016","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-632c556c-7da6-4396-8ad6-f3bf08f95062","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-115.18988%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":500,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8d41bf32-6f66-47f4-9c67-568e498bae10","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-f66dba74-44e0-4723-9971-8cd7f64d3ec4","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-123.30098%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":800,"duration":500,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Alcohol Consumption Linked to 7 Cancer Types, Warns Surgeon General Tejal Somvanshi

U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy is pushing for cancer warning labels on alcoholic beverages, highlighting a health risk many Americans don't know about.

[{"selector":"#anim-dd93eb08-cacb-41d7-ab2c-7798fbd7d3f0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c739fdcf-ee1a-46a2-8620-25fc358e283f","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3e775b34-6785-494a-b048-bd945bab651f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-d3f625bd-3267-4f01-a129-4eee89abacbd","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-003ba883-ab0e-4e0b-8096-1aac01a50b6d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: United States Department of Health and Human Services (CC0 1.0)

Statistics show that alcohol leads to 20,000 cancer deaths, and about 13,500 die in alcohol-related traffic accidents in America annually.

[{"selector":"#anim-3aa73e8e-4f2d-4707-9da2-2046ae4df20d","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1a16694a-da0f-4c49-adca-213916bc9827","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 162.72400%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c4fa7ca4-5ad0-4254-9893-afd923c98e24","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-ab9af543-2536-4e65-9e56-cf3e4dce90e6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bf22dd7a-b987-419f-9497-be4ebdaa9abe","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Kskhh (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Most Americans know smoking (89%) and obesity (53%) can cause cancer, however, only 45% realize alcohol is a cancer risk.

[{"selector":"#anim-d0ad2f84-18a0-4ce5-b0fb-d43011f9159e","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-743bd8b4-33ba-4ff0-b75b-013c7f4785c6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-fb76f898-0793-4709-ba00-4acdec1f6da7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-8419821e-5b6e-43b7-a6dd-d2e5366f1a37","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-71459c5b-4a63-4a89-a67c-83bea34eac57","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: David Shankbone (CC BY 3.0)

Alcohol is directly linked to breast cancer in women, colorectal cancer, mouth cancer, throat cancer, voice box cancer, esophageal cancer, and liver cancer.

[{"selector":"#anim-ea9289f7-f5f7-4d1c-b31f-cd4684ffe4d0","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-3442eb9b-d554-435c-a393-a0f5b4b2e7db","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 162.72400%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-c1efb1ed-70c0-43c3-af5e-16d57d9ce015","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aa832f82-5229-4f72-ae9b-487bfdffb586","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-48baa158-69de-42b7-a314-5a1383fee688","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Foodie Factor (Pexels)

When the body breaks down alcohol, it creates a chemical called acetaldehyde that can damage DNA which triggers uncontrolled cell growth – the start of cancer.

[{"selector":"#anim-febff61b-5ad0-4fc9-b5e2-6197ce7453cd","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-064c7646-8f03-4582-9f02-2a1cede4d6e9","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-756832cb-0251-4e77-b181-83299b0c585a","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-587b239d-03cf-441a-8632-9e76de56d1a6","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-68fee321-79b5-4d55-aecf-a5ad88bd2ed1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Repository/2022/11/29/thiet-ke-chua-co-ten-17 (CC BY 2.0)

A standard drink contains 14 grams of alcohol, equal to 5 ounces of wine, 12 ounces of beer, and 1.5 ounces shot glass of distilled liquor.

[{"selector":"#anim-1835da51-d592-4e8b-98d9-dc330a118a6f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-4952c6dd-e188-442e-a42f-79b84a1f938e","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 198.61114%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-b2ca92c5-2847-4356-8d33-d2841381f259","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-340501f2-0b69-4d3e-8416-d6547c5028a5","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-52dd62a6-c40f-464d-8ab9-cb1e4f6d69f7","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Yan Krukao (Pexels)

The World Health Organization classifies alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen – the same category as tobacco and asbestos, which is why one should carefully monitor their consumption.

[{"selector":"#anim-7eb62f94-6037-4ed0-9f9b-ea767b1718dc","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-0c72fc76-716d-473f-b5e5-9a80e205ec5a","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 116.02864%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-17e3b7e5-fefc-44d9-99a5-c6222cc042e1","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-53b2f47f-aa01-4db6-a515-6e97f82c0b46","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.18987%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-bbfd4c60-344a-4128-900c-66d20946b88c","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: United States Mission Geneva (CC BY-ND 2.0)

Studies show that cutting back on alcohol consumption can reduce your risk of specific cancers by 8% and overall cancer risk by 4%.

[{"selector":"#anim-2736efaa-caeb-46cf-bda5-4cace2029dd6","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-eccde6dc-2fc7-45cd-bf4c-792839d43307","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, 197.04866%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":300,"duration":600,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-cefab16e-f21c-4e12-bf5e-e895f7057c56","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-71091a30-21bc-40f0-aade-0c70fb6f31f7","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(0px, -114.48664%, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-41d24d94-7d36-4df3-a1d3-1cdb2ef5781f","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":1400,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] Photo Source: Rhoda Baer (CC0 1.0)

[{"selector":"#anim-6e5e76fc-d3f0-43b6-8166-c86115abd817","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.4, 0.4, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-7294dfc3-dc9c-471c-bd7a-3086811cd586","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-1827e8ac-c9bb-4766-aa2a-678abf6bce71","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(-114.50152%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":200,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-2ec24812-b17d-48e6-a378-0bb1e9fb2d06","keyframes":{"opacity":[0,1]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] [{"selector":"#anim-aff28f4c-133d-47b7-aae5-a7391a7f8cda","keyframes":{"transform":["translate3d(115.55555%, 0px, 0)","translate3d(0px, 0px, 0)"]},"delay":700,"duration":3000,"easing":"cubic-bezier(0.2, 0.6, 0.0, 1)","fill":"both"}] AI Blood Test Detects Early Breast Cancer with 98% Accuracy Learn more