Key Signs to Know If your Casual Drinking Is Turning Into an Addiction

 

By Janice Killey | 

Alcoholism is a chronic disease which affects a lot of people in the society nowadays. Although this is no longer a new topic for everyone, alcoholism should not be taken lightly as it can bring severe effects to the affected person.

Symptoms of Alcoholism come as signs and markers that are manifested during the disease’s early stage. Even if there are many signs of knowing if someone is an alcoholic or not, it is not that easy to detect.

Have you been drinking too much, too often lately? Ask yourself this question along with others listed below. All of these will eventually help you determine if your casual drinking has turned into an addiction. 

1. Are you lying and hiding whenever you drink?

The scene: You just got home from a casual drinking session without your partner knowing that you went into one. Curious why you are home late than usual, she asks you if you were out with your friends, drinking. Without any hesitation, you respond to her with a resounding “no.” If this situation is all too familiar to you, you might be an alcoholic.

The explanation: Denial is typical to people who have problems with alcohol. They would often lie to people on how much and how frequently they drink to not make an issue out of it. Alcoholics would even heed these questions just to put their friends’ and family’s mind at ease thinking that everything is fine.

2. Are you drinking to relax?

The scene: You had a stressful day at work because your boss gave the promotion you expected to another employee. You immediately crave for a bottle of beer the moment the news broke. You were depressed the next day because your car stopped in the middle of the road and so, you can’t stop thinking of drinking again. Whatever your emotional status is for the day, you always look forward to drinking beer to ease all the negativities you are experiencing.

The explanation: Using alcohol as an escape from real-life dilemmas is risky. Yes, you might be relaxed the moment you drink beer, but it can also create problems which can spiral in the long run.

3. Do you black out every time you drink?

The scene: Most of the time, you do not remember what happens next the moment you are intoxicated. The day after a drinking session would usually involve your friends informing you of what you did while you were drunk.

The explanation: You drink way too much – simple. Not being able to learn when to stop is one indication that drinking has become your addiction. After all, no one requires you to “blackout” before you can have fun.

4. Do you drink in dangerous situations?

The scene: You function well at work if you are able to drink before your working schedule. You still choose to drink even if you are to drive for a five-hour trip. You drink excessively despite your doctor’s reminders. Do these situations sound familiar to you? If yes, you can tick this off as one of the most important signs of problem drinking. 

The explanation: Every time you do any of the scenarios laid out for you, you are putting yourself at risk and more significant consequences. Taking these risks just to get a hold of a beer, means that drinking has become a priority in your life.

5. Are you neglecting your responsibilities?

The scene: You forgot to submit an important business presentation because you had a hung-over from the night before. Upon arriving home, you also realized that today was supposed to be your child’s family day and once again, you forgot to attend. You wait for your partner to arrive home and the minute she does, she lectures you of how irresponsible you have become because of drinking too much.

The explanation: Once your responsibilities are taken for granted because you drink too much, you have a drinking problem. Alcohol obviously crossed the boundary from an occasional enjoyment to something which impacts your daily functions.

To conclude

Experiencing one of the things listed above does not necessarily make you an alcoholic. But if you have been answering yes to all of these questions, there is a possibility that your drinking has gone too far. For you to be sure of your symptoms, it is always best to seek professional help.

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Janice Killey has a wealth of experience and training. She holds a Diploma of Education, Bachelor of Arts (Psychology), Master of Arts (Counselling), Diploma of Clinical Hypnotherapy (ASH) and is a Registered Psychologist at Psychologists Southern Sydney. She’s also a member of the Australian Psychological Society.

The post Key Signs to Know If your Casual Drinking Is Turning Into an Addiction appeared first on The Sleuth Journal.

Study: Moderate Drinking Linked with Fewer Heart Problems

An ice cold beer can be refreshing, and a glass of wine can be relaxing, but is alcohol safe for your heart? Alcohol consumption in moderation has a reputation for being heart-healthy, and a new study of nearly 2 million people seems to confirm that, but only to a certain degree.

For the study, published in the BMJ, researchers analyzed the link between alcohol consumption and 12 different heart problems, including heart attack, heart failure, and chest pain linked with heart disease, within a large group of U.K. adults. None of the participants had cardiovascular disease at the beginning of the study, and all were 30 years of age or older. The researchers zeroed in on the first heart problem that each participant developed. [1], [2]

They also looked at other information in the records, including how much alcohol the subjects reported drinking. Based on their drinking habits, each participant was placed in one of five groups: nondrinkers, former drinkers, occasional drinkers, moderate drinkers, and heavy drinkers.

Moderate alcohol intake is considered up to 1 drink a day for women, and up to 2 drinks a day for men. [3]

One drink contains 0.6 fluid ounces of alcohol and is defined as:

• 12 fl. oz. of regular beer (5% alcohol)

• 4-5 fl. oz. of wine (12% alcohol)

• 1.5 fl. oz. of 80-proof distilled spirits (40% alcohol)

• 1 fl. oz. of 100-proof distilled spirits (50% alcohol)

Source: CNN

The Findings

According to the study, there were no heart conditions for which the nondrinkers had the lowest risk. In other words, they found that drinking was not necessarily bad for the heart. [2]

Compared with those who never drank, moderate drinkers were actually less likely to be diagnosed with chest pain, heart failure, stroke, peripheral artery disease, and several other conditions. No statistically significant differences were found between the groups for other conditions.

The heavy drinkers, on the other hand, were found to be more likely to be diagnosed with conditions like heart failure, cardiac arrest, peripheral artery disease, and stroke compared with moderate drinkers, which supports earlier findings that heavy drinking is not good for heart health.

Yet the heavy drinkers were less likely to be diagnosed with a heart attack than moderate drinkers. The researchers wrote that this doesn’t mean that heavy drinkers are not at risk for having a heart attack. It simply means a heart attack is less likely to be the first heart problem heavy drinkers have.

As for former drinkers, the researchers found that they were more likely than current drinkers to be diagnosed with certain heart conditions, including chest pain, heart attack, cardiac arrest, and aortic aneurysm. This doesn’t mean that people shouldn’t quit drinking. The finding suggests that some people quit in part because they are developing health problems from drinking.

Additionally, alcohol does not appear to protect against four less common heart problems: certain types of milder strokes caused by brief periods of blocked blood flow to the brain, and cases of bleeding in the brain. [1]

Overall, the study suggests that moderate drinking is associated with a lower risk for several heart conditions.

But if you don’t drink, or you drink rarely, the researchers advise against becoming a moderate drinker to protect your heart. It’s much safer to quit smoking, eat right, and get enough exercise.

The science behind the health effects of drinking have always been murky. Past studies showed that having two alcoholic drinks a day increased the risk for atrial fibrillation, or irregular heartbeat, by 17%. This condition can lead to stroke and heart failure. And while moderate wine consumption has been linked with a lower risk for breast cancer, recent research suggests that the risk increases as alcohol intake increases.

So if you don’t drink, don’t start for the sake of your health. And if you drink a lot, you should consider cutting back for your health’s sake.

Sources:

[1] Time

[2] Live Science

[3] Atlanta Journal-Constitution

CNN

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Europeans Are Dying For A Drink...Especially The Lithuanians

"Everything in moderation" appears to be a phrase the Europeans are willing to ignore. A new report shows the average European puts away between one and four drinks a day, enough to notably increase the risk of colorectal and esophageal cancers. Americans drink 20 percent less alcohol each year than Europeans.

“The majority of people aren’t aware that alcohol is a risk factor in these cancers,” said Professor Helena Cortez-Pinto, a gastroenterologist at Hospital Universitário de Santa Maria in Lisbon. “This epidemiological evidence is clear about the association.”

As Bloomberg reports, United European Gastroenterology, a nonprofit coalition of specialists, analyzed data collated by the World Health Organization, which shows that Europeans drink more than people on any other continent, an average of 11.2 liters of alcohol per year—the equivalent of just under two drinks a day.

Americans drink 20 percent less alcohol each year than Europeans, while the average African drinks half the amount. One in every five Europeans over the age of 15 drinks “heavily”—more than four alcoholic drinks—at least once a week.

The American Cancer Society supported the report’s findings, pointing to comments on its website that note “limiting alcohol use to no more than two drinks a day for men and one drink a day for women could have many health benefits, including a lower risk of colorectal cancer.”

And while the risks are now clear, one nation stands out in Europe... Lithuania holds the unenviable crown of Europe’s heaviest drinkers, downing 3.2 alcoholic drinks per day, or 18.2 liters of pure alcohol per person per year. By comparison, drinkers in the U.S. are practically teetotaling, drinking the equivalent of 1.6 drinks a day.

Lithuania’s government recently passed sweeping reforms of its alcohol laws, which will take effect Jan. 1. The country will ban alcohol advertising, raise the drinking age to 20 from 18, and outlaw alcohol sales between 8 p.m. and 10 a.m.

Egle Leskauskaite, 17, will now have to wait until July 2020 to drink legally, and she said that making alcohol illegal could perversely make it more attractive.

“It’s annoying because it’s not going to help Lithuanian people stop drinking,” she said.

“If people want to drink they’ll find a way to buy it.”

This State Just Banned Carrying A Gun While Drinking A Single Can Of Beer

Simply carrying a gun after drinking one beer or one glass of wine soon will be a crime in one American state.

That’s because a new law in Utah cracking down on drunk driving also might, by extension, restrict gun rights in the state.

A new law, HB 155, lowers the blood alcohol limit for driving in Utah from .08 percent to .05 percent,  making it the toughest such law in the nation, The Washington Post reported. The lowest threshold in other states is .08.

Governor Gary R. Herbert signed the measure into law on March 23 despite opposition from the restaurant, alcohol and tourism industries, as well as from some gun rights groups.

The new law, combined with another part of Utah criminal code, has a major impact on gun owners.

The Self-Defense And Hunting Weapon That Doesn’t Require A Firearms License!

Section 528 of Title 76 and Chapter 10 of the Utah Criminal Code states: “Any person who carries a dangerous weapon while under the influence of alcohol or a controlled substance … is guilty of a class B misdemeanor.”

“Under the influence” is now defined as .05 percent.

“To understand how low this limit is, consider that a 100-pound woman would most likely reach this level after one beer and as such would be unable to carry a hunting knife, firearm, or even a stun gun,” a statement from the Utah Shooting Sports Council (USSC) reads. The USSC urged Herbert to veto the law. “… The restrictions on carrying a dangerous weapon would apply at all times and everywhere including your home.”

USCC emphasized that it “is not good practice to be shooting while drinking, nor do we believe that one should be allowed to carry a firearm while drunk.”

“However, there is a big difference between actively shooting a firearm while drunk and simply carrying a firearm or hunting knife when one has had a beer,” USCC said. “We believe that a person should not lose the ability to exercise their right of self-defense for having a small amount of alcohol in their system.”

The American Beverage Institute ran an ad in some newspapers reading, “Utah: Come for vacation, leave on probation.”

Similar laws eventually may spread. The Post reported that bills lowering the blood alcohol level to .05 percent were proposed in Washington state and Hawaii but failed.

Herbert did not address the gun issue but pointed to a study by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism that found, “A large body of creditable research over many years has clearly shown that impairment of tasks necessary for safe driving begins at levels as low as 0.05 percent.”

France, Italy, Russia and Australia all have .05 limits.

What is your reaction? Share your thoughts in the section below:

If You Run Out Of Ammo, What Would You Do? Learn How To Make Your Own! Read More Here.

Drink Alcohol? This Might Cut Your Risk of Alcohol-Related Early Death

If you’re a drinker, carving out 2 to 2.5 hours a week to exercise may reduce your risk of dying early from alcohol-related cancer and other health problems.

Not drinking would eliminate that risk, but let’s be realistic.

Drinking can be Fun, but…

Let’s face it; we live in an alcohol-rich society, and many of us like it that way. But that doesn’t mean we should ignore how it could affect our health.

Alcohol consumption is linked to higher rates of early death from any cause, including cancer. The more you drink, the higher your risk. Though, just to confuse things, past studies indicate that moderate drinking may have some heart health benefits. [1]

People’s drinking habits seem to go hand-in-hand with their lifestyle habits, in general. Drinking and smoking usually go together, for example. But not many studies exist where researchers looked at how alcohol consumption affects people who exercise compared to those who don’t.

So a Few Scientists Decided to Study It

Emmanuel Stamatakis, an associate professor at University of Sydney in Australia, and his colleagues looked at more than 36,000 middle-aged men and women for an average of nearly 10 years and tracked their death rates and causes of death.

The individuals tracked by the researchers were over the age of 40 and had provided data for 6 editions of the Health Survey for England up to 2006, and the 1998 and 2003 editions of the Scottish Health Survey.

The Findings

The team found that only those who weren’t physically active – defined as those who didn’t get the recommended 150 minutes of moderate-to-intense exercise each week – had a higher risk of early mortality.

Those who reported getting the recommended amount of exercise had slightly lower death rates, as long as they drank no more than 1 to 2 drinks per day. However, those who drank in excess, at levels considered dangerous for their health, showed higher rates of death regardless of how much they exercised.

For women, hazardous drinking means consuming 8 to 20 alcoholic beverages a week. For men, it means consuming 21 to 49 standard alcoholic drinks per week. [3]

Source: Medical Xpress

Stamatakis says:

“Among the physically active, there was no increase in cancer and all-cause mortality up to hazardous levels of alcohol consumption.” [2]

Furthermore, there didn’t appear to be a difference in mortality rates among physically active participants, whether they exercised at the minimum recommended amount or the maximum amount.

The authors concluded:

“Meeting the current physical activity public health recommendations offsets some of the cancer and all-cause mortality risk associated with alcohol drinking.”

The Study’s Limits

The study relied on self-reporting, so it doesn’t definitely prove cause and effect, says Michael Hyek, senior director of OhioHealth’s McConnell Heart Health Center. Even so, Stamatakis believes his study gives “yet another reason” to promote exercise.

He asks:

“How many more reasons do we need for physical activity to be taken seriously?”

Hyek agrees, saying:

“I know very few chronic medical conditions that exercise will not have a positive impact on. It’s a good thing regardless of what your circumstances are.”

So, if you drink, try not to overdo it (at least not too often, and don’t scrimp on exercise.

Actually, don’t scrimp on exercise, even if you don’t drink.

Sources:

[1] Time

[2] The Guardian

[3] CNN

Medical Xpress

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About Julie Fidler:
	Julie Fidler is a freelance writer, legal blogger, and the author of Adventures in Holy Matrimony: For Better or the Absolute Worst. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two ridiculously spoiled cats. She occasionally pontificates on her blog.

Obesity and Liver Cancer Link Now Supported by New WHO Study

People who have a high body mass index (BMI), excess weight circumference, and Type 2 diabetes have a greater risk of developing liver cancer, a large new study finds. [1]

One expert in the United Kingdom (U.K.) is even calling for a shift in attitude so that obesity is seen as a red flag for having an increased risk of liver cancer.

The Study

In the study, BMI and waist measurement were used as 2 markers for excess belly fat. Type 2 diabetes was also used as a marker, due to its close association with obesity.

Researchers compared the rates of liver cancer, which have more than tripled in the U.K. since the 1970’s, against 1.57 million adults who were cancer-free when they enrolled in 14 different studies.

Liver cancer rates were compared among patients with and without obesity and diabetes to determine how much of a role these factors play in developing the disease.

Researchers controlled for age, sex, alcohol use, smoking, and race. [2]

An Increased Risk

The team found that for every 5-point increase in BMI, there was a 38% increase in the risk of liver cancer among men and a 25% increase among women. [1]

For every 2-inch increase in waist circumference, the risk of liver cancer increased by 8% – even after controlling for BMI.

In all, they found that being overweight increased the relative risk for liver cancer by between 21% and 142% as BMI increased. [2]

Participants who also had Type 2 diabetes were 2.61 times more likely to be diagnosed with liver cancer. The risk also increased in higher BMI. [3]

No association between BMI and cancer was found if the participant had hepatitis, a cause of liver cancer so strong that it overwhelms every other cause. However, among those without hepatitis, the increased risk was significant. [2]

Association Does Not Equal Causation

Peter Campbell, a director at the American Cancer Society, which participated in the research, says:

“We found that each of these three factors was associated, robustly, with liver cancer risk. All three relate to metabolic dysfunction. This adds substantial support to liver cancer being on the list of obesity-associated cancers.” [3]

Like the U.K., the incidence of liver cancer has tripled in the United States, where it is the 6th most common type of cancer.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), obesity sparks about 500,000 cancer cases annually.

In May, a review of more than 1,000 studies by the WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer showed that being overweight or obese increased the risk for at least 13 types of cancer. Those 13 types are:

• Esophageal


• Colorectal


• Breast


• Uterine


• Kidney


• Gallbladder


• Pancreatic


• Thyroid


• Ovarian


• Brain


• Multiple myeloma


• Blood


• Stomach

Researchers said that the only risk factor that seemed to be more significant was smoking.

Obesity can cause metabolic and hormonal abnormalities, as well as chronic inflammation, which are all contributors to cancer.

Sources:

[1] WebMD

[2] The New York Times

[2] Daily Mail

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About Julie Fidler:
	Julie Fidler is a freelance writer, legal blogger, and the author of Adventures in Holy Matrimony: For Better or the Absolute Worst. She lives in Pennsylvania with her husband and two ridiculously spoiled cats. She occasionally pontificates on her blog.