Avoid alcohol for better health: Health Experts

By Mahima Devkota, Kathmandu, Oct.31: Experts have warned that alcohol consumption must be avoided totally to avoid health problems. 

Dr Om Murti Anil, a senior consultant cardiologist at Nepal Cardiac Centre, said," There is a common belief that consumption of alcohol in small amounts is good for health, however, the recent studies now have suggested that alcoholic consumption in any amount is bad."

He added that immune-compressed people, people having chronic diseases, and pregnant women are at more risk of developing illness from alcohol consumption. 

He said that persistent consumption of alcohol increases the risk of high blood pressure, stroke, and congestive heart failure and is a proven cause of several kinds of cancer, including breast and liver cancer.

According to the report of the World Health Organization (WHO), alcohol consumption contributes to 3 million deaths each year globally as well as to the disabilities and poor health of millions of people. Overall, the harmful use of alcohol is responsible for 5.1% of the global burden of disease.

Harmful use of alcohol is accountable for 7.1per cent and 2.2 per cent of the global burden of disease for males and females respectively. Alcohol is the leading risk factor for premature mortality and disability among those aged 15 to 49 years, accounting for 10 per cent of all deaths in this age group. Disadvantaged and especially vulnerable populations have higher rates of alcohol-related death and hospitalization, read the report of WHO. 

According to a recent study 'No safe level of alcohol consumption for brain health: an observational cohort study of 25,378 UK Biobank participants' by a group of scientists at Oxford University in England, there’s no safe dose for alcohol consumption.

Yogita Sapkota, a dietician supervisor at the National Trauma Center, said, "Alcoholic beverages are very addictive and we get accustomed to it, it becomes very difficult to come clean. As a result, many people fall into a pattern thereby making alcohol the main diet and neglecting other nutrition." 

She said that alcohol consumption is linked to numerous life-threatening diseases. Abusing alcohol can lead to addiction and need to be avoided on a diet. Any amount of alcohol inside a body is not good. 

Dr Dipendra Raman Singh, director of the Department of Health Services (DoHS) said that there are multifarious effects of alcohol consumption. Not only heavy alcoholism causes life-threatening diseases, and mental health issues, but acts as a triggering agent of violence, poverty, and abuse in families and society. Therefore, alcohol consumption must be avoided for a healthy life.