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Alcohol
The Good, the Bad, the Calories
By Felicia Hodges
Although it isn't often regarded with a lot of hoopla and fanfare, alcohol awareness is gaining ground. It even has its own month: April. But don't go out and celebrate with a drink! Research has shown over and over again that heavy alcohol consumption is definitely not the best thing for the human body.
Alcohol consumption has been linked with cirrhosis and cancer of the liver, as well as stomach cancer, fertility difficulties, endometrial cancer and even increasing the risk of breast cancer. Even in small doses, alcohol can temporarily affect memory, balance, coordination and motor function. It also may kill hoards of sensitive stomach cells when it is swallowed and irritate brain blood vessels once it is absorbed, causing the "hangover stomach and head" that some who indulge to excess know all too well.
Although experts aren't really sure what causes intoxication, neurologists do know that the slurred speech, blurry vision and difficulty negotiating a straight line are actually signs of alcohol poisoning – a sure sign that the body has consumed too much.
So many people know how much harm a scotch and soda could potentially do. So why do we drink?
"Probably because alcohol is so socially accepted in our culture," says Dr. Fred M. Arthur, a clinical psychologist who practices in upstate New York. "Alcohol is part of just about every social scene we know, from graduations and weddings to funerals and business deals. Think about how many cocktail or dinner parties you've been to where there wasn't alcohol around. It's so ingrained in our society that the host would most likely feel impolite if he didn't offer you a drink."