US Surgeon General says alcohol should have cancer warning labels

Dr. Murthy, who spoke to NPR Morning Edition about the latest recommendations, said that even moderate alcohol consumption can lead to cancer of the mouth, throat, larynx, esophagus, breast cancer, liver cancer, colon cancer, and rectal cancer. It said it was associated with an increased risk of seven types of cancer, including cancer. She also said that alcohol directly contributes to 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer-related deaths each year, and specifically that 1 in 6 breast cancer cases may be related to alcohol consumption. He said there is. Although most cancer deaths are associated with heavy drinking (that is, more than the recommended daily amount), throat, mouth, and breast cancers can occur with as little as one drink or less per day. says Dr. Marcy.

“Many people in the world believe that as long as women drink less than the current guideline limit of one alcoholic drink a day and men two alcoholic drinks a day, there is no danger. their health and well-being,” Dr. Murthy said in an interview. But, he added, “the data do not support the cancer risk.”

For decades, medical professionals have debated the health risks associated with alcohol consumption. Organizations like the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have long known about the possible link between alcohol, cancer, and other negative health effects, but the U.S. Diet for Americans Guidelines still recommend no more than one or two alcoholic drinks per day. Previous research has shown that moderate alcohol consumption can potentially reduce the risk of diseases such as: cardiovascular disease1 – No. 1 cause of death in the United States.

However, recent studies contradict this, finding that heavy and moderate drinking may be associated with increased drinking. certain heart diseases2 Such as atrial fibrillation (i.e., a type of arrhythmia).

Dr. Murthy’s recent recommendations include an overview of the past 20 years of research and research, including a global study of 28 million people in 195 countries, all of which It has been found that alcohol consumption increases the risk of cancer. But will there be new warning labels? (And do we still need to worry?)

Probably won’t see new labels anytime soon

Despite Dr Murthy’s sounding the alarm on the issue, it’s unlikely we’ll see any updates to alcoholic beverage warning labels any time soon. For one thing, Congress is the only body that can mandate updates to the labels, and the current alcohol labels (labels that warn against drinking, driving, and causing health problems while pregnant) date back to 1988. This has not changed since its adoption. What could be another reason? When it comes to label updates, there is often a lot of pushback from across the alcohol industry.

Furthermore, although they cite a small increase in breast cancer with alcohol consumption, there is no clear association with other cancers, and there are some marginal increases that may confound the effects of all types of cancer. There are also reviews (such as those by the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine commissioned by the U.S. Congress). Delegation from resolution.

So is there any need to worry?

This warning should just serve as a warning. Dr Murthy stressed that not everyone who drinks in moderation will develop cancer, and that the risk increases as alcohol intake increases. Additionally, everyone’s cancer risk varies depending on factors such as family history, genetics, and exposure to carcinogens (cancer-causing agents) in the daily environment and overall health.

Ultimately, Dr. Murthy adds, “If you drink occasionally for special events or once or twice a week, your risk is likely to be significantly lower than if you drink every day.” Ta. Limiting alcohol in general is always recommended for overall health and well-being.