Shocking Reasons Alcohol May Be The Deadliest Addiction Of All

Higher Risk Of Cancer

According to the National Toxicology Program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, alcoholic beverages are a known human carcinogen - meaning they can cause cancer. Furthermore, significant research indicates the more alcohol an individual regularly drinks over time, the higher their risk of developing an alcohol-associated cancer is. Such cancers include certain head and neck cancers, as well as esophageal, breast, colorectal, and liver cancer.

The increased risk is due to many factors, such as the body breaking down the ethanol in alcoholic beverages to acetaldehyde - a toxic chemical and likely carcinogen - which can damage DNA. Alcohol can also reduce the body’s ability to absorb vital nutrients that can reduce cancer risk, such as vitamins A, C, D, and E. Excessive alcohol consumption can also increase the blood levels of estrogen, which has been linked to breast cancer. Alcohol also slows the body’s ability to repair damage, including damage caused by chemicals in tobacco, something many individuals smoke while they drink, which makes alcohol and tobacco a severe risk for the human body.

Compromised Immune System

Drinking a lot of alcohol puts increased stress on the immune system since it first needs to work at cleansing the body of alcohol, which means it is less able to fight off potential infections and illnesses. Thus, alcoholics are at an increased risk of contracting diseases such as pneumonia and tuberculosis than those who do not drink regularly or in excess. Furthermore, drinking while already sick lengthens the illness and can make it worse since the body will not have all its faculties necessary to fight. Alcohol is not the fluid individuals should drink when they are ill, even if they are lucky to only have a cold.

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