Following these guidelines could prolong life expectancy by 14 years for women and 12.2 years for drinking and life expectancy men. Adhering to only one of these factors, however, only increases life expectancy by 2.5 years for women and 2.2 years for men (19). Current CDC guidelines recommend that men consume no more than two drinks per day, while women should limit their intake to one drink per day. The potential effects of drinking on a person’s health and longevity depend largely on the amount and frequency of alcohol consumed.
Lifespan of a Moderate Drinker
However, it’s not just the life expectancy of those diagnosed with AUD that is severely impacted. Excessive drinking, which is classified as 5 drinks or more in a https://ecosoberhouse.com/ day or 15 or more drinks in a week for men and 4 drinks or more in a day or 8 or more drinks in a week for women also has detrimental effects. What increases the risk even more for those with AUD is the fact that it can be difficult to stop drinking. Excessive drinking is the habit of over-drinking on a single occasion (binge drinking) or consuming too many alcoholic beverages per week.
Alcoholic Beverages Reduce Inflammation
Since no amount of alcohol is safe for our health, any amount of alcohol — not just excessive consumption — can negatively impact our longevity. Let’s take a closer look at the impact of various amounts of alcohol Oxford House on our life expectancy. All of these drinking habits can reduce a person’s life expectancy and, in some cases, end life right there. Young people under the legal drinking age should not consume alcohol because its effects can stunt brain development.
The Health Effects of Alcohol
A large 2017 study also found that light and moderate drinkers were less likely to die from cardiovascular disease than those who never sipped. Red wine, in particular, is often singled out for its anti-aging benefits, usually because of a compound called resveratrol — though that explanation may be a little oversimplified, and more research is needed. New research, which was presented at the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s annual conference, has found that moderate drinking is linked to a longer life.
- With our coffee-consumption habits being validated by science, we can peacefully put some of those research-backed tips into practice—now and for a couple more years to come.
- Modest drinking has been repeatedly discussed in scientific papers as protective against certain diseases, such as cardiovascular diseases, but in most cases, alcohol worsens health conditions, especially when consumed at high risk levels.
The relationship between alcohol and breast cancer has been particularly well-studied, with scientists theorizing that alcohol may increase estrogen levels and therefore feed breast cancer. Other research suggests that alcohol may disrupt DNA activity, potentially leading to cancers of the breast, colon, liver, mouth and esophagus. These risks may be even more severe if you have certain other habits, such as smoking and drinking hot tea. Most rely on self-reporting, do not analyze binge drinking, do not assess alcohol consumption over a lifetime, or do not account for the fact that some study subjects may reduce their alcohol consumption due to alcohol-related health problems.
