Drink to good health
With all the dangers and negative publicity of alcohol consumption, it may be hard to believe it can lead to both health and social improvements for some.
According to several studies, elaborated on in a Scientific American magazine special edition article, drinking moderate amounts of alcohol can have cardiovascular benefits, reducing the risk of heart attack and other health problems.
“(In these studies,) people who drank moderately… had less heart disease than even those who didn’t drink at all,” said Matt Flint, a professor in the department of health, physical education and recreation.
“Drink to Your Health?” written by Arthur Klatsky, states that the only established risk of moderate drinking is that it might lead to heavy drinking for some, which has more risks, but probable benefits of moderate drinking include decreased risks of coronary heart disease, ischemic stroke and gallstones.
Decreased risks for blindness and diabetes can also be added to the list, according to Phillip Waite, an assistant professor in the department of health, physical education and recreation.
The reason alcohol may help is because it can prevent atherosclerosis, the buildup of plaque in the arteries, Waite said. He said atherosclerosis is the underlying cause of strokes and heart disease.
But the health benefits only come from drinking moderately, not binge drinking.
“That’s the key is the whole moderately,” Flint said.
According to Flint, moderate drinking is one drink a day for women and one to two for men. One drink consists of a 12-ounce beer, a glass of wine, or 1 1/2 ounces spirits.
Flint also said one potential problem with the studies is that they’re retrospective, not clinical trials. Waite agreed, saying retrospective studies are subject to some weaknesses because they come from what people report of themselves, not experiments.
And the studies don’t recommend people who abstain from drinking to start, Flint said.
“You don’t know who’s going to become an alcoholic,” he said. “What most of these articles are saying if you already drink alcohol and you fit into the population where you might get heart disease, then make sure you keep it moderate.”
But Waite said there are other ways for people to get some of the same good results that moderate drinking can have. He said exercising and healthy eating habits can have the same and possibly better results.
And while these health benefits are possible, some may drink for other reasons.
“Having a beer helps me relax after a long day of work,” said Ryan Gregson, a junior in biology.
One or two drinks can be relaxing, Flint said, but Waite and Flint agree the setting of alcohol consumption has effects. Flint said drinking can enhance what someone is already feeling, whether it be anger, happiness or depression.
And having more than a couple drinks at the end of the week, even if someone hasn’t had a drink all week, doesn’t fit in with moderate drinking.
“That’s not the same,” Flint said. “In all these studies, they point that out. We’re not talking about binge drinking… There’s nothing beneficial about that.”
But, he said, “You could argue that (alcohol as a social lubricant) is a social benefit. It brings people out.”
Gregson agreed, saying, “In social situations, it helps me lose inhibitions, and I’m not worried about how I look… It breaks down the wall with people you don’t know.”
He said drinking helps him not worry about what other people are thinking of him, and that makes him more likely to reach out to meet other people.
Gregson added that when he drinks, he’s not as self conscious when he does stuff like dancing, and he believes others feel the same way.
“I’m always under control though,” he said.
-rebrad@cc.usu.edu