How your drinking habits could put you at risk of more than 60 diseases – including 28 not previously linked to alcohol

BRITS love a drink, especially in this balmy weather.

But if you hit the pub every night or have a few too many drinks at the weekend, scientists say you’d better get a grip on the reins.

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A new study has shown alcohol consumption can increase the risk of over 60 diseases – including many not previously associated with alcohol, such as gout, cataracts, broken bones and stomach ulcers.

And it adds to research that has already warned that heavy drinking can increase the risk of liver cirrhosis, stroke and various types of cancer, according to the study from Oxford Population Health, Peking University and the Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences.

Pek Kei Im, research associate at Oxford Population Health and lead author of the study, said: “Alcohol use is negatively associated with a much wider range of diseases than has been previously established, and our results show that these associations are likely causal.” “

This means that alcohol consumption is likely the direct cause of these diseases and is not related to their occurrence.

The study published in the journal natural medicine examined the data of 512,000 Chinese adults who gave detailed interviews on their lifestyle and drinking habits.

About a third of men – but only 2 percent of women – drank regularly, i.e. at least once a week.

The researchers looked at the men’s health records over a period of about 12 years and performed a genetic analysis to clarify whether or not alcohol consumption was responsible for the disease.

Among the 207 diseases found in men, the research team found that alcohol consumption was associated with a higher risk of 61 diseases.

These included 28 diseases previously classified by the World Health Organization as alcohol-related, such as liver cirrhosis, stroke and several gastrointestinal cancers.

However, it found that another 33 diseases not previously defined as alcohol-related – such as gout, cataracts, some fractures and stomach ulcers – were also caused by alcohol habits.

According to the results of the study, men who drank regularly had a significantly higher risk of developing illnesses and had to stay in the hospital more often than men who drank only occasionally.

Certain drinking habits have been shown to have an impact on men’s health.

Daily drinking, in the event of severe binge eating or outside of meals increases the risk of certain diseases in particular, such as e.g. B. Liver cirrhosis.

According to the NHSLiver cirrhosis is scarring of the liver caused by long-term liver damage that affects the way the liver works. It can eventually lead to liver failure and serious complications that can be life-threatening.

Genetic analysis showed that all four drinks per day were associated with a 14 percent higher risk of having established alcohol-related diseases, a 6 percent higher risk of diseases not previously known to be alcohol-related, and a more than doubled risk of liver cirrhosis and gout.

Men who drink more alcohol are also more likely to have a stroke.

Although they focused on Chinese men’s health outcomes, the researchers estimated that “alcohol consumption may increase disease risk in populations around the world.”

Iona Millwood, associate professor at Oxford Population Health and senior author of the study, said: “It is becoming increasingly clear that harmful alcohol consumption is one of the most important risk factors for ill health, both in China and globally.”

It is estimated that alcohol consumption is responsible for about three million deaths worldwide each year and is increasing in many low- and middle-income countries such as China.

The UK recorded 9,641 alcohol-related deaths – equivalent to 14.8 per 100,000 people – the highest number ever recorded census data.

The NHS advises both men and women to regularly consume no more than 14 units of alcohol per week.

You should also spread your alcohol consumption over three days or more if you regularly drink up to 14 units per week.

For reference, 14 units is equivalent to six pints of average-strength beer, or 10 small glasses of lower-strength wine.

Here’s a guide to how many units your favorite drink contains:

• A small shot of spirits = 1 unit
• Small glass of red, white or rosé wine = 1.5 units
• Bottle of lager, beer or cider = 1.7 units
• Can of lager, beer or cider = 2.4 units
• Pint of lower strength lager, beer or cider = 2 units
• Standard glass of red, white or rosé wine = 2.1 units
• Pint of stronger lager, beer or cider = 3 units
• Large glass of red, white or rosé wine = 3 units

Recent research has found that alcohol-dependent youth by the age of 24 are at greater risk of developing depression and other mental illnesses.

For now, these are 17 signs you’re a functioning alcoholic.