This April, during Alcohol Awareness Month, the National Life Group Health and Wellness Center encourages you to educate yourself and your loved ones about the dangers of drinking too much alcohol. Not only does it increase one’s risk for liver disease, mood disorders, sleep disorders and some types of cancer, it certainly increases risk of injuries, violence, and drowning. To spread the word and prevent alcohol abuse, the Health and Wellness Center is joining other organizations across the country to celebrate Alcohol Awareness Month.
The U.S. Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that if alcohol is consumed that it should be in moderation, meaning in single day having up to one drink for women and two drinks for men.
A single “drink” could be any of the following:
- 12 oz. of beer
- 8 oz. of malt liquor
- 5 oz. of table wine
- 5 oz. of 80 proof liquor
Alcohol addiction is a chronic, progressive disease, genetically predisposed and fatal if untreated. However, people can and do recover. In fact, it is estimated that as many as 20 million individuals and family members are living lives in recovery from alcohol use! Drinking beyond the recommended limits does not necessarily mean that you have an addiction, however, though it is worthwhile to assess how much alcohol you do consume to evaluate what your personal risks may be.
If you think that you are drinking too much, or someone has commented on how much you drink, you can improve your health by cutting back or quitting. Here are some strategies to help you cut back or stop drinking:
- Limit your drinking to no more than 1 drink a day for women, 2 drinks a day for men
- Keep track of how much you drink each day/week/month
- Choose a day each week when you will not drink
- Don’t drink when you are upset
- Limit the amount of alcohol you keep at home
- Avoid places where people drink a lot
- Make a list of reasons not to drink
If you are concerned about someone else’s drinking, offer to help. If you are concerned about your own drinking habits and would like help we are here for you. Come to visit the Health and Wellness Center anytime if you would like any help to assess and/or address concerns about too much alcohol consumption.