It's time to go easy on the alcohol.
According to a new report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more people in the United States are dying because of alcohol. To be more specific, it is at least 35% more since 2002, the highest so far since 35 years ago. Further, more people die from alcohol than heroin overdose.
Two of the common reasons for these alcohol-induced deaths are liver cirrhosis and alcohol poisoning. Liver cirrhosis is a condition characterized by the scarring of the liver, preventing the vital organ to function normally. It also increases the risk of liver cancer. World Health Organization (WHO) cites that at least 20% of all liver cirrhosis cases are due to excessive drinking of alcohol.
Meanwhile, alcohol poisoning refers to the intake of copious amounts of alcohol in only a short period of time. Its signs and symptoms include vomiting, disorientation, hypothermia, slow breathing, and seizures. It can also lead to coma and death.
Too much alcohol is also being linked to an increased risk of other diseases such as heart disease, hypertension, and diabetes.
The CDC already previously reported that excessive alcohol drinking caused at least one of every ten deaths among working-age adults with ages from 20 to 64 years old. Moreover, excessive drinking can possibly reduce a person's lifespan by as much as 30 years.
Alcohol drinking can also affect economically. In the United States, it costs more than $200 billion of which 40% is paid by the government.
To start curbing excessive alcohol drinking, the CDC recommends exercising a more proactive approach by limiting how much is consumed or following the dietary guidelines, which is up to two drinks for men and only one drink for women.
The Community Preventive Services Task Force, on the other hand, suggests increasing alcohol taxes, electronic screening, and implementing limited hours and days of alcohol sale.