CDC Guidelines Regarding Excessive Alcohol Use
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excessive drinking can have a serious impact on a person’s health. Men may be more at risk for certain alcohol-related health conditions since they are more likely to drink excessively. Additionally, according to the CDC, men are more likely to take certain risks compared to women which may increase the likelihood of injury or death.
The CDC estimates that men are almost twice as likely to binge drink compared to women and that over twenty percent of men admitted to binge drinking five times a month. Sadly, men “have higher rates of alcohol-related deaths and hospitalizations than women.” Alcohol can increase a man’s risk for cancer. Increased risk because of alcohol consumption is associated with the following types of cancer:
- Mouth
- Throat
- Esophagus
- Liver
- Colon
Excessive alcohol consumption, as noted by the CDC, can also “interfere with testicular function and male hormone production resulting in impotence, infertility, and reproduction of male secondary sex characteristics such as facial and chest hair.”
Alcohol consumption can greatly affect a person’s mental health. Men are more susceptible to committing suicide and more likely to have consumed alcohol prior to suicide. Mental health and substance use disorders can coexist and can be treated together. Alcohol is a known depressant that may increase depression in a person.
Excessive alcohol consumption can have negative short- and long-term health problems. It is vital to seek treatment any time you feel that you have developed an unhealthy reliance on alcohol. Alcohol dependence or addiction can have devastating consequences for nearly every aspect of your life. Treatment is available during the pandemic.