{"id":15140446,"date":"2026-06-04T19:06:13","date_gmt":"2026-06-04T23:06:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/drinking-alcohol-can-raise-your-risk-of-these-20-health-conditions\/"},"modified":"2026-06-28T01:48:26","modified_gmt":"2026-06-28T05:48:26","slug":"drinking-alcohol-can-raise-your-risk-of-these-20-health-conditions","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/drinking-alcohol-can-raise-your-risk-of-these-20-health-conditions\/","title":{"rendered":"Drinking Alcohol Can Raise Your Risk of These 20 Health Conditions"},"content":{"rendered":"<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" loading=\"lazy\" width=\"1296\" height=\"728\" src=\"https:\/\/media.post.rvohealth.io\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/Drinking_Alcohol_Raises_Risk_20_Health_Conditions-header-1296x728-1.jpg\" alt=\"Pouring whisky from a bottle into a crystal glass\" class=\"wp-image-4849263\" \/><figcaption>Research shows that any amount of drinking can increase your health risks. Image Credit: Catherine Falls Commercial\/Getty Images<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>A recent study found an association between alcohol consumption and 20 different health outcomes.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>The findings show that any amount of alcohol may increase the risk for various cancers.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>The researchers noted that the effects of alcohol can vary based on factors like sex, age, drinking patterns, and other behavioral risk factors.\u00a0<\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong>The study found that there is no evidence to support sex-specific thresholds on alcohol guidelines.&nbsp;<\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It&#8217;s well-established that consuming alcohol can have negative effects on overall health. <\/p>\n<p>The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/alcohol\/about-alcohol-use\/moderate-alcohol-use.html\">states<\/a> that moderate drinking may have health risks, while the World Health Organization (WHO) <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/europe\/news\/item\/04-01-2023-no-level-of-alcohol-consumption-is-safe-for-our-health\">warns<\/a> that no amount of alcohol is safe.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>A new study found that any alcohol consumption can raise the risk for major cancers, including colorectal cancer, breast cancer, and pancreatic cancer. <\/p>\n<p>The findings, published on June 1 in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s44360-026-00139-5\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nature Health<\/a>, show associations between alcohol use and several additional health outcomes, including other forms of cancer.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The researchers noted that while there are limitations to the study, the results present a clearer picture of the risks associated with alcohol consumption to help inform personalized decisions about alcohol use.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThis is not surprising and illustrates the many mechanisms through which alcohol, especially when consumed in large amounts, is toxic to our bodies,\u201d said <a href=\"https:\/\/www.memorialcare.org\/providers\/ketan-k-thanki\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ketan Thanki<\/a>, MD, board certified colorectal surgeon with the MemorialCare Todd Cancer Institute at Long Beach Medical Center in Long Beach, CA. Thanki wasn&#8217;t involved in the study.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2>Low-to-moderate alcohol use linked to health risks<\/h2>\n<p>Even moderate alcohol consumption may increase the risk for certain health conditions, especially cancers.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The study analyzed 843 cohort and case-control studies published through 2023 using the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nature.com\/articles\/s41591-022-01973-2\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Burden of Proof<\/a> meta-analytic framework.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The researchers aimed to systematically re-evaluate the relationship between alcohol consumption and 20 health outcomes. These included 10 types of cancer:\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/breast-cancer\/breast-cancer\">breast<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/colorectal-cancer\/colorectal-cancer\">colorectal&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/esophageal-cancer\">esophageal&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/laryngeal-cancer\">laryngeal<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/liver-cancer\">liver<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/lip-cancers\">lip<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/oral-cancer\">oral<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/cancer-throat-or-larynx\">pharyngeal&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/pancreatic-cancer\">pancreatic<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/prostate-cancer\">prostate<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/gastric-cancer\">stomach<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>It also included four cardiovascular diseases:&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/living-with-atrial-fibrillation\">atrial fibrillation<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/heart-disease\/atrial-flutter\">flutter<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/stroke\/cerebral-ischemia\">ischemic stroke<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/hemorrhagic-stroke\">hemorrhagic stroke<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/ischemic-cardiomyopathy\">ischemic heart disease<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The study included six other conditions as well:&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/alzheimers-disease\">Alzheimer\u2019s disease<\/a> and other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/dementia\">dementias<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/cirrhosis\">cirrhosis<\/a> and other <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/chronic-liver-disease\">chronic liver diseases<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li>lower <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/respiratory-system\">respiratory<\/a> infections&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/pancreatitis\">pancreatitis<\/a>&nbsp;<\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/tuberculosis\">tuberculosis&nbsp;<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health\/type-2-diabetes\">type 2 diabetes<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Alcohol use raises risk of multiple health conditions by up to 50%<\/h2>\n<p>Alcohol raised the risk of five health outcomes by 15\u201350%, including: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>lip and oral cavity cancer<\/li>\n<li>laryngeal cancer<\/li>\n<li>cirrhosis and other chronic liver diseases<\/li>\n<li>pancreatitis<\/li>\n<li>colon and rectal cancer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The strongest association was between alcohol consumption and pharyngeal cancer, with a 105% increased risk. <\/p>\n<p>Any amount of alcohol consumption appeared to increase the risk for pharyngeal cancer more than the other health conditions that were considered.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>Nine outcomes met the criteria for an increased risk of developing a health condition by 0\u201315% or, in some cases, a decrease in risk by 0\u201313%. These included: <\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>esophageal cancer<\/li>\n<li>breast cancer<\/li>\n<li>Alzheimer\u2019s disease and other dementias<\/li>\n<li>atrial fibrillation and flutter<\/li>\n<li>type 2 diabetes<\/li>\n<li>liver cancer<\/li>\n<li>pancreatic cancer<\/li>\n<li>lower respiratory infections<\/li>\n<li>prostate cancer<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>There were five health outcomes that showed weak or inconsistent evidence: stomach cancer, hemorrhagic stroke, ischemic stroke, tuberculosis, and ischemic heart disease.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3>Effects of alcohol use on type 2 diabetes<\/h3>\n<p>The researchers found some evidence that the risk of type 2 diabetes actually decreased with low consumption of alcohol and increased with higher consumption. <\/p>\n<p>However, this is not to say that you should start drinking alcohol if you currently don\u2019t.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile I readily recognize the role that alcohol consumption plays in the human experience, when anyone asks me about safe alcohol consumption, I always begin by saying that abstinence is the safest and truest bet,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/recovered.org\/about-us\/medical-advisors\/dr-matt-glowiak\">Matt Glowiak<\/a>, PhD, licensed counselor and chief addiction specialist with Recovered, told Healthline. Glowiak was not involved in the study.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIf one is going to drink, it is within their legal right if of age. However, they must make themselves fully aware of the health implications, which extend greatly beyond any warning label posted directly on beverage labels,\u201d he said.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>Reducing alcohol intake may improve health<\/h2>\n<p>While current CDC guidelines define moderate drinking as 2 drinks per day for males and 1 drink per day for females, the WHO <a href=\"https:\/\/www.who.int\/europe\/news\/item\/04-01-2023-no-level-of-alcohol-consumption-is-safe-for-our-health\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">states<\/a> that no safe amount of alcohol is safe for health. <\/p>\n<div class=\"wp-block-healthline-standout\">\n<h3 class=\"standout--heading\">CDC alcohol consumption guidelines<\/h3>\n<p>The <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/alcohol\/about-alcohol-use\/moderate-alcohol-use.html\">CDC<\/a> defines moderate alcohol use as:&nbsp;<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>2 drinks or less per day for males<\/li>\n<li>1 drink or less per day for females<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>In the United States, 1 standard drink is <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cdc.gov\/alcohol\/standard-drink-sizes\/index.html#cdc_generic_section_2-standard-alcohol-drink-sizes\">equivalent to<\/a>:\u00a0<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>1.5 oz or a shot of liquor or distilled spirits (80-proof\/40% alcohol), such as vodka, tequila, whiskey, rum, and gin<\/li>\n<li>12 oz of beer with 5% alcohol<\/li>\n<li>8 oz of malt liquor with 7% alcohol<\/li>\n<li>5 oz of wine with 12% alcohol<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<p>However, the conflicting public health messaging around alcohol consumption may sow confusion around how much is considered safe, which is why many experts say that abstinence is best.<\/p>\n<p>If you do wish to enjoy alcohol in moderation, Glowiak offered some parameters. \u201cThere are other proposed recommendations that speak to a 2-2-2 rule or 3-2-1 rule,&#8221; he told Healthline. <\/p>\n<p>&#8220;For example, the 2-2-2 rule indicates no more than 2 drinks per occasion, no more than 2 days in a row, with no more than 2 days per week of consumption. Essentially, the 2-2-2 rule equates to no more than 4 drinks per week, which is actually a more conservative recommendation than the CDC,\u201d Glowiak said.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The current study showed that even moderate alcohol consumption may increase the risk for nine cancers. This reinforces the well-established carcinogenic effects of alcohol.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>However, the researchers also noted that current evidence does not support sex-specific thresholds for defining moderate drinking.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>Thanki agreed and stated, \u201cWhile the current literature does suggest that moderate drinking is better for you than heavy drinking, it is hard to make sex-based claims as to what constitutes moderate in each sex based on the current data.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>While it showed some evidence that low alcohol consumption may decrease the risk of certain conditions, like type 2 diabetes, these outcomes are largely observational and may be subject to bias.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cHeavy consumption, whether regular or episodic, is going to increase your risk of developing a multitude of disease processes,\u201d said Thanki.&nbsp;&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIn an ideal world, we probably should be avoiding alcohol consumption altogether, especially when we are young and unlikely to reap the benefits the elderly see from low-moderate alcohol consumption. In the setting of our cultural expectations, though, that is unlikely to happen, so keep your consumption low to moderate and avoid high alcohol content (ABV) drinks to minimize direct injury to the GI tract,\u201d he told Healthline.&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p class=\"inmi-source\">Source: <a href=\"https:\/\/www.healthline.com\/health-news\/drinking-alcohol-raises-risk-20-health-conditions\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener nofollow\">News \u2013 World \u2013 Canada \u2013 rss.app #1 \u2192 manual entry<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Research shows that any amount of drinking can increase your health risks. Image Credit: Catherine Falls Commercial\/Getty Images<\/p>\n<p>A recent study found an association between alcohol consumption and 20 different health outcomes.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>The findings show that any amount of alcohol may increase\u2026<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15183969,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[103],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-15140446","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-canada"],"featured_image_urls":{"full":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15140446-drinking_alcohol_raises_risk_20_health_conditions-header-1296x728-1-1.jpg",1296,728,false],"thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15140446-drinking_alcohol_raises_risk_20_health_conditions-header-1296x728-1-1-300x169.jpg",300,169,true],"medium":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15140446-drinking_alcohol_raises_risk_20_health_conditions-header-1296x728-1-1-620x348.jpg",620,348,true],"medium_large":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15140446-drinking_alcohol_raises_risk_20_health_conditions-header-1296x728-1-1-768x431.jpg",768,431,true],"large":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15140446-drinking_alcohol_raises_risk_20_health_conditions-header-1296x728-1-1-940x528.jpg",940,528,true],"1536x1536":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15140446-drinking_alcohol_raises_risk_20_health_conditions-header-1296x728-1-1.jpg",1296,728,false],"2048x2048":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15140446-drinking_alcohol_raises_risk_20_health_conditions-header-1296x728-1-1.jpg",1296,728,false],"post-thumbnail":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15140446-drinking_alcohol_raises_risk_20_health_conditions-header-1296x728-1-1-998x665.jpg",998,665,true],"ignition_item":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15140446-drinking_alcohol_raises_risk_20_health_conditions-header-1296x728-1-1-670x446.jpg",670,446,true],"ignition_item_lg":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15140446-drinking_alcohol_raises_risk_20_health_conditions-header-1296x728-1-1.jpg",1296,728,false],"ignition_article_media":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15140446-drinking_alcohol_raises_risk_20_health_conditions-header-1296x728-1-1-510x510.jpg",510,510,true],"ignition_minicart_item":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15140446-drinking_alcohol_raises_risk_20_health_conditions-header-1296x728-1-1-160x160.jpg",160,160,true],"profile_24":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15140446-drinking_alcohol_raises_risk_20_health_conditions-header-1296x728-1-1-24x24.jpg",24,24,true],"profile_48":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15140446-drinking_alcohol_raises_risk_20_health_conditions-header-1296x728-1-1-48x48.jpg",48,48,true],"profile_96":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15140446-drinking_alcohol_raises_risk_20_health_conditions-header-1296x728-1-1-96x96.jpg",96,96,true],"profile_150":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15140446-drinking_alcohol_raises_risk_20_health_conditions-header-1296x728-1-1-150x150.jpg",150,150,true],"profile_300":["https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/06\/15140446-drinking_alcohol_raises_risk_20_health_conditions-header-1296x728-1-1-300x300.jpg",300,300,true]},"author_info":{"display_name":"news.iNthacity","author_link":"https:\/\/www.inthacity.com\/news\/author\/atombo\/"},"category_info":"<a 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