Alcohol is both good and bad. Makes some happy, others sad. It amplifies joy, or exacerbates decline. It alienates, it coalesces. It de-stresses, stresses, calms and kills. But you know what? You are the variable. So, then is moderation sexy? Explore your prescription.
alcohol
The Asian Flush, also known as the Asian Glow, or Alcohol Flush Reaction, can be pretty debilitating. The condition is usually associated with red faces, and flushing of the neck area. But for some of Asian descent, it also results in symptoms such as heightened heart rate, headache, and nausea -- from consuming as little as one alcoholic drink.
The CDC has issued a new, unnecessary warning to women of childbearing age. Essentially, it tells them that if they're not using birth control, do not drink. At all. Not only does this seem unduly alarmist and hyper-precautionary, but it's also not firmly rooted in sound science.
Let's face it: New Years resolutions normally happen after the New Years Eve countdown, which means the night before you're probably still practicing old habits
According to the Centers for Disease Control, roughly 88,000 Americans die each year from alcohol-related deaths, and that figure is on the rise. To put that in perspective, the death toll is nearly twice the number attributed annually to deaths stemming from opiate and heroin overdoses.
It's holiday time, and time for holiday drinks, too. But should we be concerned about the alcohol consumption that seems to proliferate at this time of year? Recent research is reassuring, as long as you consume moderate amounts and don't overdo it.
The latest edition of the annual "Monitoring the Future" survey shows encouraging trends continuing for youth smoking, substance abuse and alcohol abuse, as well. However, binge drinking remains a problem, and e-cigarettes are increasingly being used for "fun" by youngsters, rather than as an aid to quit smoking.
A review of government statistics by two Princeton economists reveals a disturbing, and surprising, rising trend of mortality rates among middle-aged white Americans. The likely causes: drugs, both legal and illicit, liver diseases, alcohol and suicide.
A recent CDC survey of adult behaviors found that more recent quitters, and those who have tried to quit, are using e-cigarettes.
Regarding alcohol, the standard advice to pregnant women is: Just Say No. But is that the best medical science can offer? We think not, because an infrequent tipple is not a significant causative factor for any serious condition for the fetus or newborn. Evidence of such an effect is not to be found.
Pregnant women are often told that in the late term they're allowed to lightly consume alcohol, But is there any science-based evidence supporting this position? In a recent medical journal article, three experts debate the questions on whether pregnant women should drink, and if so, how much.
We usually think about young people as those who frequently go too far with alcohol. While that's true, we often overlook other demographics. A new study points out that 20 percent of senior citizens, those over the age of 65, are also hitting the sauce way too hard.