In my previous blog, I talked about moderate alcohol consumption. Studies have shown that moderate alcohol consumption can lower the risk of cardiovascular disease in men and women. Moderate drinking means one drink per day for women and one to two drinks for men. And it is of course important to keep the size of the drink in mind.

According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture, one drink is equal to:
•    12 ounces of beer or
•    5 ounces of wine or
•    1½ ounces of spirits (hard liquor such as gin or whiskey, 80-proof)

Dangers of over consumption of Alcohol
What if we consume more than the moderate amount? Over consumption of alcohol can result in serious health consequences. It can cause cirrhosis, a fatal liver disease. It can also raise our blood pressure, damage our heart, can cause many types of cancers, which include mouth, esophagus, breast, prostate, and colorectal cancers. The health risks are even greater for those who not only drink but smoke as well.

Over Consumption of Alcohol: Signs of Alcohol Abuse
How will you decide if a person who is consuming alcohol has a drinking problem? Doctors often use the CAGE test, which involves four simple questions. These are:

Cutting down: Have you ever felt you should cut down on your drinking?
Annoyance by criticism: Have people annoyed you by criticizing your drinking?
Guilty feeling: Have you ever felt guilty about drinking alcohol?
Eye-openers: Have you ever had a drink first thing in the morning to steady your nerves or to get rid of a hangover (an eye-opener)?

If the answer is yes for any the above question, then it is believed that the drinker needs help from professionals.

Other signs of a drinking problem:
•    You find you can’t stop drinking once you start.
•    You’re having problems at work or at school due to drinking.
•    Other people notice your drinking and comment on it.
•    You can’t remember what you did when you were drinking alcohol.

Once you are addicted to alcohol, it can be catastrophic for you, your family and the dear ones. So, as soon as you feel you need something which can change your mood, try to concentrate on other things which usually amuse you. You should also not hesitate to seek help from professionals before your condition worsens.

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