There are lots of things that people enjoy that aren’t all that healthy, and alcohol consumption certainly makes the list. According to a new study published by the JAMA Network, though, habitual alcohol consumption may be even more harmful than we previously thought.
The Link Between Alcohol Consumption and Cardiovascular Disease
In a study titled “Association of Habitual Alcohol Intake With Risk of Cardiovascular Disease” that was published on March 25, 2022, by the JAMA Network, researchers examined the connection between varying amounts of habitual alcohol consumption and the risk of developing cardiovascular diseases.
This study analyzed 317,463 participants with a mean age of 57 years and a mean alcohol consumption of 9.2 standard drinks per week. According to the study’s results, “genetic epidemiology suggested that alcohol consumption of all amounts was associated with increased cardiovascular risk, but marked risk differences exist across levels of intake, including those accepted by current national guidelines.”
The study also found that, “light alcohol intake was associated with minimal increases in cardiovascular risk, whereas heavier consumption was associated with exponential increases in risk of both clinical and subclinical cardiovascular disease.”
These concerning results come at a time when alcohol consumption is on the rise in the United States. According to the 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 25.8 percent of people ages 18 and older reported binge drinking – defined as a pattern of drinking alcohol that brings blood alcohol concentration to .08% or higher – within the past month. Another study published by Hepatology found that the one-year increase in alcohol consumption brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic is estimated to cause an additional 8,000 deaths from alcohol-related liver disease by the year 2040. What’s even more concerning is the fact that this model assumes that the increased alcohol consumption caused by COVID-19 only lasts a single year; in models where this increase in alcohol consumption persists into the future, the same study estimates that we could see a staggering 19-35% increase in alcohol-related mortality.
Given the findings from these studies, it is now more important than ever for physicians to address the risks of habitual alcohol consumption with their patients – especially when you consider the fact that cardiovascular disease is just one of many risk factors associated with excessive alcohol consumption.
Other Risk Factors of Excessive Alcohol Consumption
The strong link between alcohol consumption and cardiovascular disease demonstrated by the JAMA Network study may have been a concerning new development, but other risks associated with excess alcohol consumption were already well established. According to the Center for Disease Control, the long-term health risks of excessive alcohol consumption include:

- Cancer of the mouth, liver, breasts, throat, esophagus, voice box, colon, and rectum
- Liver disease
- Depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems
- Weakened immune system
- Digestive problems
- High blood pressure
- Learning and memory problems, including dementia
- Alcohol use disorders and alcohol dependence
This, of course, does not even take into account the short-term risk factors of excessive alcohol consumption, which the CDC says includes risks such as alcohol poisoning, increased likelihood of death or injury due to accidents such as motor vehicle crashes, increased likelihood of violent behavior, increased likelihood of risky sexual behavior, and the increased risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and fetal alcohol syndrome among pregnant women.
Final Thoughts
Few things in life are without risk, and alcohol is simply one addition to a long list of vices that can prove dangerous when abused or not treated with the caution they deserve. However, it is certainly important for physicians and the general population alike to remain aware of the risks associated with excess alcohol consumption. At Bikham Healthcare, raising awareness about these risks is something we take seriously, and we hope that anyone who does indulge in alcohol consumption will do so safely and responsibly.