It’s easy to raise a glass on a Friday night, after a long week of lectures and the exhausting three hous labs—a good way of unwinding and releasing all the tension in our body, without giving it much thought. But do any of us really think of what happens to our bodies when the drink is finished?
The average student in Edinburgh spends £30.29 on alcohol per month. According to recent data, adults in Scotland typically drink 21.6 units of alcohol per week, which is 50 per cent more than the recommended daily intake. A consultant in Public Health Medicine, Dr Tara Shivaji, stated that, due to alcohol, she predicted there to be a “21 per cent increase in disease burden by 2043 compared to 2019 levels.”
Now, it it crucial to know that alcohol is a carcinogen, it can cause cancer, or, more specifically, it increases the likelihood of getting cancer. In essence, the body breaks down ethanol (alcohol) into acetylaldehyde, which is a toxin when it is inside the body. Acetylaldehyde damages cells and stops the specific mechanisms from repairing these damage. Alcohol can also increase the level of oestrogen and insulin in the body, which then makes cells divide more, increasing the chances of cancer development.
Ultimately, having an occasional drink is a common social activity for many individuals, and that’s completely fine! However, awareness is the key- we need to be aware that alcohol can raise the risk of cancer. This does not require us to abstain entirely, but it does enable us to make better decisions.
We must remember that every little action helps safeguard our long-term health, whether that means establishing boundaries, taking frequent breaks from drinking, or looking into alcohol-free options. We can take better care of ourselves and properly toast to good times if we have a better understanding of what’s in our glass.
Photo by Aleksandr Popov on Unsplash