We have all seen and heard the advertisements on television warning us about the dangers associated with smoking and drinking, especially in our teen years. Smoking is a dangerous and dirty habit, while drinking alcohol can put you in dangerous situations and cause a loss of control. There are numerous physiological effects associated with these two habits that are important to know about.
Liver Disease
A study published in the American Journal of Epidemiology in 2008 determined that smoking and drinking alcohol increases the risk of cirrhosis of the liver. According to the study, which looked at the smoking and drinking habits of 1.2 million British women, the risk of cirrhosis of the liver increased as alcohol intake increased. The risks of both cirrhosis of the liver and gallbladder disease increased with the number of cigarettes smoked daily, the study reported.
Cancer
The American Association of Cancer Research reported on the website Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention that the risks of cancer of the mouth, larynx and esophagus are increased by smoking and drinking. A separate study that looked at 120,000 Dutch adults over a period of 16 years determined that smoking increases the chances of contracting stomach and esophageal cancer. Alcohol use also increases the risk of cancer in the esophagus, according to the study that was reported by Reuters Health.
Cardiovascular Disease
A study conducted by Dr. Kenneth Mukamal and published by the U.S. National Institutes of Health reports that drinking three or more drinks daily and smoking can cause an increase in blood pressure as well as an increase in the amount of fat in the blood stream. Smoking and drinking also increases the risks of stroke and congestive heart failure, according to the study. The American Heart Associaiton reports that the risk of contracting coronary heart disease is two to four times higher in smokers than in nonsmokers, while alcohol consumption can increase blood pressure, cause heart failure and stroke.
References
- American Heart Association: Risk Factors
- U.S. National Institutes of Health: The Effects of Smoking and Drinking on Cardiovascular Disease and Risk Factors
- Oxford Journals: Separate and Joint Effects of Alcohol and Smoking on the Risks of Cirrhosis and Gallbladder Disease in Middle-aged Women
- Cancer Epidemiology, Biomarkers and Prevention: A comparison of the joint effects of alcohol and smoking on the risk of cancer across sites in the upper aerodigestive tract.
- Reuters.com: Smoking, drinking up risks of gut, throat cancers
