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How ‘#Dry January’ is the secret to better sleep, saving money and losing weight
https://m.sussex.ac.uk/news/all?id=47131
“The simple act of taking a month off #alcohol helps people drink less in the long term: by August people are reporting one extra dry day per week. There are also considerable immediate benefits: nine in ten people save money, seven in ten sleep better and three in five lose weight.
“Interestingly, these changes in alcohol consumption have also been seen in the participants who didn’t manage to stay alcohol-free for the whole month - although they are a bit smaller. This shows that there are real benefits to just trying to complete Dry January.”
The University of Sussex research showed that:
93% of participants had a sense of achievement;
88% saved money;
82% think more deeply about their relationship with drink;
80% feel more in control of their drinking;
76% learned more about when and why they drink;
71% realised they don’t need a drink to enjoy themselves;
70% had generally improved health;
71% slept better;
67% had more energy;
58% lost weight;
57% had better concentration;
54% had better skin.
The brilliant thing about Dry January is that it’s not really about January. Being alcohol-free for 31 days shows us that we don’t need alcohol to have fun, to relax, to socialise. That means that for the rest of the year we are better able to make decisions about our drinking, and to avoid slipping into drinking more than we really want to.
How ‘#Dry January’ is the secret to better sleep, saving money and losing weight
https://m.sussex.ac.uk/news/all?id=47131
“The simple act of taking a month off #alcohol helps people drink less in the long term: by August people are reporting one extra dry day per week. There are also considerable immediate benefits: nine in ten people save money, seven in ten sleep better and three in five lose weight.
“Interestingly, these changes in alcohol consumption have also been seen in the participants who didn’t manage to stay alcohol-free for the whole month - although they are a bit smaller. This shows that there are real benefits to just trying to complete Dry January.”
The University of Sussex research showed that:
93% of participants had a sense of achievement;
88% saved money;
82% think more deeply about their relationship with drink;
80% feel more in control of their drinking;
76% learned more about when and why they drink;
71% realised they don’t need a drink to enjoy themselves;
70% had generally improved health;
71% slept better;
67% had more energy;
58% lost weight;
57% had better concentration;
54% had better skin.
The brilliant thing about Dry January is that it’s not really about January. Being alcohol-free for 31 days shows us that we don’t need alcohol to have fun, to relax, to socialise. That means that for the rest of the year we are better able to make decisions about our drinking, and to avoid slipping into drinking more than we really want to.
The University of Sussex
How ‘Dry January’ is the secret to better sleep, saving money and losing weight
New research from the University of Sussex shows that taking part in Dry January has many benefits.
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The acceptability of addressing #alcohol consumption as a modifiable risk factor for #breast cancer: a mixed method study within breast screening services and symptomatic breast clinics
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/6/e027371
Potentially modifiable risk factors account for approximately 23% of breast cancers, with obesity and alcohol being the two greatest. Breast screening and symptomatic clinical attendances provide opportunities (‘teachable moments’) to link health promotion and breast cancer-prevention advice within established clinical pathways. This study explored knowledge and attitudes towards alcohol as a risk factor for breast cancer, and potential challenges inherent in incorporating advice about alcohol health risks into breast clinics and screening appointments.
Alcohol was identified as a breast cancer risk factor by 40/205 (19.5%) of attenders and 16/33 (48.5%) of staff. Overall 66.5% of attenders drank alcohol, and 56.6% could not estimate correctly the alcohol content of any of four commonly consumed alcoholic drinks. All women agreed that including a prevention-focussed intervention would not reduce the likelihood of their attendance at screening mammograms or breast clinics..
The acceptability of addressing #alcohol consumption as a modifiable risk factor for #breast cancer: a mixed method study within breast screening services and symptomatic breast clinics
https://bmjopen.bmj.com/content/9/6/e027371
Potentially modifiable risk factors account for approximately 23% of breast cancers, with obesity and alcohol being the two greatest. Breast screening and symptomatic clinical attendances provide opportunities (‘teachable moments’) to link health promotion and breast cancer-prevention advice within established clinical pathways. This study explored knowledge and attitudes towards alcohol as a risk factor for breast cancer, and potential challenges inherent in incorporating advice about alcohol health risks into breast clinics and screening appointments.
Alcohol was identified as a breast cancer risk factor by 40/205 (19.5%) of attenders and 16/33 (48.5%) of staff. Overall 66.5% of attenders drank alcohol, and 56.6% could not estimate correctly the alcohol content of any of four commonly consumed alcoholic drinks. All women agreed that including a prevention-focussed intervention would not reduce the likelihood of their attendance at screening mammograms or breast clinics..
BMJ Open
The acceptability of addressing alcohol consumption as a modifiable risk factor for breast cancer: a mixed method study within…
Objectives Potentially modifiable risk factors account for approximately 23% of breast cancers, with obesity and alcohol being the two greatest. Breast screening and symptomatic clinical attendances provide opportunities (‘teachable moments’) to link health…
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#Alcohol Consumption and Risk of #Dementia and #Cognitive Decline Among Older Adults With or Without Mild Cognitive Impairment
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2752097
Findings were consistent when stratified by sex, age, and APOE E4 genotype. Compared with drinking less than 1.0 drink per week, complete abstention (in participants without MCI) and the consumption of more than 14.0 drinks per week (in participants with MCI) were associated with lower Modified Mini-Mental State Examination scores (mean difference at follow-up compared with baseline, −0.46 point [95% CI, −0.87 to −0.04 point] and −3.51 points [95% CI, −5.75 to −1.27 points], respectively).
Conclusions and Relevance In this study, complete abstention and consuming more than 14.0 drinks per week (compared with drinking <1.0 drink per week) were associated with lower cognitive scores among participants aged 72 years and older. Particular caution is needed among individuals with MCI who continue to drink alcohol.
#Alcohol Consumption and Risk of #Dementia and #Cognitive Decline Among Older Adults With or Without Mild Cognitive Impairment
https://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2752097
Findings were consistent when stratified by sex, age, and APOE E4 genotype. Compared with drinking less than 1.0 drink per week, complete abstention (in participants without MCI) and the consumption of more than 14.0 drinks per week (in participants with MCI) were associated with lower Modified Mini-Mental State Examination scores (mean difference at follow-up compared with baseline, −0.46 point [95% CI, −0.87 to −0.04 point] and −3.51 points [95% CI, −5.75 to −1.27 points], respectively).
Conclusions and Relevance In this study, complete abstention and consuming more than 14.0 drinks per week (compared with drinking <1.0 drink per week) were associated with lower cognitive scores among participants aged 72 years and older. Particular caution is needed among individuals with MCI who continue to drink alcohol.
Jamanetwork
Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Dementia and Cognitive Decline Among Older Adults
This cohort study examines the association between alcohol intake and risk of dementia among older adults with or without mild cognitive impairment.
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Population Impact Attributable to Modifiable Risk Factors for #Hyperuricemia
#BMI, #alcohol intake, adherence to a DASH‐style #diet, and diuretic use were all associated with serum urate levels and the presence of hyperuricemia in a dose‐response manner. The corresponding PARs of hyperuricemia cases for overweight/obesity (prevalence, 60%), non‐adherence to a DASH‐style diet (prevalence, 82%), alcohol use (prevalence, 48%), and diuretic use (prevalence, 8%) were 44% (95% CI, 41 to 48%), 9% (3% to 16%), 8% (5% to 11%), and 12% (11% to 14%), respectively, whereas the corresponding variances explained were 8.9%, 0.1%, 0.5%, and 5.0%. Our simulation study showed the variance nearing zero with exposure prevalence's nearing 100%.
Conclusion
In these nationally representative US adults, four modifiable risk factors (BMI, the DASH diet, alcohol use, and diuretic use) could individually account for a notable proportion of hyperuricemia cases. However, the corresponding serum urate variance explained by these risk factors was very small and paradoxically masked their high prevalences, providing real‐life empirical evidence for its limitations in assessing common risk factors.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/art.41067
Population Impact Attributable to Modifiable Risk Factors for #Hyperuricemia
#BMI, #alcohol intake, adherence to a DASH‐style #diet, and diuretic use were all associated with serum urate levels and the presence of hyperuricemia in a dose‐response manner. The corresponding PARs of hyperuricemia cases for overweight/obesity (prevalence, 60%), non‐adherence to a DASH‐style diet (prevalence, 82%), alcohol use (prevalence, 48%), and diuretic use (prevalence, 8%) were 44% (95% CI, 41 to 48%), 9% (3% to 16%), 8% (5% to 11%), and 12% (11% to 14%), respectively, whereas the corresponding variances explained were 8.9%, 0.1%, 0.5%, and 5.0%. Our simulation study showed the variance nearing zero with exposure prevalence's nearing 100%.
Conclusion
In these nationally representative US adults, four modifiable risk factors (BMI, the DASH diet, alcohol use, and diuretic use) could individually account for a notable proportion of hyperuricemia cases. However, the corresponding serum urate variance explained by these risk factors was very small and paradoxically masked their high prevalences, providing real‐life empirical evidence for its limitations in assessing common risk factors.
https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/art.41067
Wiley Online Library
Population Impact Attributable to Modifiable Risk Factors for Hyperuricemia
Objective
To examine modifiable risk factors in relation to the presence of hyperuricemia and estimate the proportion of hyperuricemia cases that could be prevented through risk factor modification ...
To examine modifiable risk factors in relation to the presence of hyperuricemia and estimate the proportion of hyperuricemia cases that could be prevented through risk factor modification ...
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Convergent evidence for predispositional effects of #brain gray matter volume on #alcohol consumption
Smaller right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC; i.e., middle and superior frontal gyri) and insula GMVs were associated with increased alcohol use across samples. Family-based and prospective longitudinal data suggest these associations are genetically-conferred and that DLPFC GMV prospectively predicts future use and initiation. Genomic risk for alcohol use was enriched in gene-sets preferentially expressed in the DLPFC, and associated with replicable differential gene expression in the DLPFC.
Conclusions
These data suggest that smaller DLPFC and insula GMV plausibly represent genetically-conferred predispositional risk factors for, as opposed to consequences of, alcohol use. DLPFC and insula GMV represent promising biomarkers for alcohol consumption liability and related psychiatric and behavioral phenotypes.
https://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S0006-3223(19)31678-6/fulltext
Convergent evidence for predispositional effects of #brain gray matter volume on #alcohol consumption
Smaller right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex (DLPFC; i.e., middle and superior frontal gyri) and insula GMVs were associated with increased alcohol use across samples. Family-based and prospective longitudinal data suggest these associations are genetically-conferred and that DLPFC GMV prospectively predicts future use and initiation. Genomic risk for alcohol use was enriched in gene-sets preferentially expressed in the DLPFC, and associated with replicable differential gene expression in the DLPFC.
Conclusions
These data suggest that smaller DLPFC and insula GMV plausibly represent genetically-conferred predispositional risk factors for, as opposed to consequences of, alcohol use. DLPFC and insula GMV represent promising biomarkers for alcohol consumption liability and related psychiatric and behavioral phenotypes.
https://www.biologicalpsychiatryjournal.com/article/S0006-3223(19)31678-6/fulltext
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#Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Liver #Cirrhosis
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
..There was no increased risk for occasional drinkers. Consumption of one drink per day in comparison to long-term abstainers showed an increased risk for liver cirrhosis in women, but not in men. The risk for women was consistently higher compared to men. Drinking ≥5 drinks per day was associated with a substantially increased risk in both women (relative risk [RR] = 12.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.65–23.27 for 5–6 drinks, and RR = 24.58, 95% CI: 14.77–40.90 for ≥7 drinks) and men (RR = 3.80, 95% CI: 0.85–17.02, and RR = 6.93, 95% CI: 1.07–44.99, respectively). Heterogeneity across studies indicated an additional impact of other risk factors.
DISCUSSION: Alcohol is a major risk factor for liver cirrhosis with risk increasing exponentially. Women may be at higher risk compared to men even with little alcohol consumption. More high-quality research is necessary to elucidate the role of other risk factors, such as genetic vulnerability, body weight, metabolic risk factors, and drinking patterns over the life course. High alcohol consumption should be avoided, and people drinking at high levels should receive interventions to reduce their intake.
https://journals.lww.com/ajg/Fulltext/2019/10000/Alcohol_Consumption_and_Risk_of_Liver_Cirrhosis__A.8.aspx
#Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Liver #Cirrhosis
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
..There was no increased risk for occasional drinkers. Consumption of one drink per day in comparison to long-term abstainers showed an increased risk for liver cirrhosis in women, but not in men. The risk for women was consistently higher compared to men. Drinking ≥5 drinks per day was associated with a substantially increased risk in both women (relative risk [RR] = 12.44, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.65–23.27 for 5–6 drinks, and RR = 24.58, 95% CI: 14.77–40.90 for ≥7 drinks) and men (RR = 3.80, 95% CI: 0.85–17.02, and RR = 6.93, 95% CI: 1.07–44.99, respectively). Heterogeneity across studies indicated an additional impact of other risk factors.
DISCUSSION: Alcohol is a major risk factor for liver cirrhosis with risk increasing exponentially. Women may be at higher risk compared to men even with little alcohol consumption. More high-quality research is necessary to elucidate the role of other risk factors, such as genetic vulnerability, body weight, metabolic risk factors, and drinking patterns over the life course. High alcohol consumption should be avoided, and people drinking at high levels should receive interventions to reduce their intake.
https://journals.lww.com/ajg/Fulltext/2019/10000/Alcohol_Consumption_and_Risk_of_Liver_Cirrhosis__A.8.aspx
LWW
Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Liver Cirrhosis: A... : American Journal of Gastroenterology
categories of drinking in relation to the incidence of liver cirrhosis. Study characteristics were extracted and random-effects meta-analyses and meta-regressions were conducted.
RESULTS:
A total of 7 cohort studies and 2 case–control studies met the inclusion…
RESULTS:
A total of 7 cohort studies and 2 case–control studies met the inclusion…
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Evidence for a Direct Harmful Effect of #Alcohol on #Myocardial Health: A Large Cross‐Sectional Study of Consumption Patterns and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Biomarkers From Northwest Russia, 2015 to 2017
..Measurements were made of the following: (1) high‐sensitivity cardiac troponin T, (2) NT‐proBNP (N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide), and (3) hsCRP (high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein). The narcology clinic subsample had the most extreme drinking pattern and the highest levels of all 3 biomarkers relative to nonproblem drinkers in the general population: high‐sensitivity cardiac troponin T was elevated by 10.3% (95% CI, 3.7%–17.4%), NT‐proBNP by 46.7% (95% CI, 26.8%–69.8%), and hsCRP by 69.2% (95% CI, 43%–100%). In the general population sample, NT‐proBNP was 31.5% (95% CI, 3.4%–67.2%) higher among harmful drinkers compared with nonproblem drinkers. Overall, NT‐proBNP and hsCRP increased with increasing intensity of alcohol exposure (test of trend P<0.001).
Conclusions
These results support the hypothesis that heavy alcohol drinking has an adverse effect on cardiac structure and function that may not be driven by atherosclerosis.
https://bit.ly/2s263vV
Evidence for a Direct Harmful Effect of #Alcohol on #Myocardial Health: A Large Cross‐Sectional Study of Consumption Patterns and Cardiovascular Disease Risk Biomarkers From Northwest Russia, 2015 to 2017
..Measurements were made of the following: (1) high‐sensitivity cardiac troponin T, (2) NT‐proBNP (N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide), and (3) hsCRP (high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein). The narcology clinic subsample had the most extreme drinking pattern and the highest levels of all 3 biomarkers relative to nonproblem drinkers in the general population: high‐sensitivity cardiac troponin T was elevated by 10.3% (95% CI, 3.7%–17.4%), NT‐proBNP by 46.7% (95% CI, 26.8%–69.8%), and hsCRP by 69.2% (95% CI, 43%–100%). In the general population sample, NT‐proBNP was 31.5% (95% CI, 3.4%–67.2%) higher among harmful drinkers compared with nonproblem drinkers. Overall, NT‐proBNP and hsCRP increased with increasing intensity of alcohol exposure (test of trend P<0.001).
Conclusions
These results support the hypothesis that heavy alcohol drinking has an adverse effect on cardiac structure and function that may not be driven by atherosclerosis.
https://bit.ly/2s263vV
#Alcoholics Anonymous and other 12‐step programs for #alcohol use disorder
https://2medical.news/2020/03/19/alcoholics-anonymous-and-other-12%E2%80%90step-programs-for-alcohol-use-disorder/
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) confers a prodigious burden of disease, disability, premature mortality, and high economic costs from lost productivity, accidents, violence, incarceration, and increased healthcare utilization. For over 80 years, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has been a widespread AUD recovery organization, with millions of members and treatment free at the point of access, but it is only recently that rigorous research on its effectiveness has …
https://2medical.news/2020/03/19/alcoholics-anonymous-and-other-12%E2%80%90step-programs-for-alcohol-use-disorder/
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) confers a prodigious burden of disease, disability, premature mortality, and high economic costs from lost productivity, accidents, violence, incarceration, and increased healthcare utilization. For over 80 years, Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) has been a widespread AUD recovery organization, with millions of members and treatment free at the point of access, but it is only recently that rigorous research on its effectiveness has …
#Alcohol Use Disorder and Risk of #Suicide in a Swedish Population-Based Cohort
https://2medical.news/2020/03/25/alcohol-use-disorder-and-risk-of-suicide-in-a-swedish-population-based-cohort/
..The lifetime rate of suicide during the observation period was 3.54% for women and 3.94% for men with AUD, compared with 0.29% and 0.76% of women and men, respectively, without AUD. In adjusted analyses, AUD remained robustly associated with suicide: hazard ratios across observation periods ranged from 2.61 to 128.0 among women and from 2.44 to 28.0 among men. Co-relative analyses indicated that familial confounding …
https://2medical.news/2020/03/25/alcohol-use-disorder-and-risk-of-suicide-in-a-swedish-population-based-cohort/
..The lifetime rate of suicide during the observation period was 3.54% for women and 3.94% for men with AUD, compared with 0.29% and 0.76% of women and men, respectively, without AUD. In adjusted analyses, AUD remained robustly associated with suicide: hazard ratios across observation periods ranged from 2.61 to 128.0 among women and from 2.44 to 28.0 among men. Co-relative analyses indicated that familial confounding …
Associations Between Medical Conditions and #Alcohol Consumption Levels in an Adult Primary Care Population
https://2medical.news/2020/05/17/associations-between-medical-conditions-and-alcohol-consumption-levels-in-an-adult-primary-care-population/
..Among the 2 720 231 included patients, 1 439 361 (52.9%) were female, 1 308 659 (48.1%) were white, and 883 276 (32.5%) were aged 18 to 34 years. Patients with any of the conditions (except injury or poisoning) had lower odds of drinking at low-risk and unhealthy levels relative to no reported use compared with those without the condition. Among 861 427 patients reporting alcohol use, patients with diabetes (odds ratio [OR], …
https://2medical.news/2020/05/17/associations-between-medical-conditions-and-alcohol-consumption-levels-in-an-adult-primary-care-population/
..Among the 2 720 231 included patients, 1 439 361 (52.9%) were female, 1 308 659 (48.1%) were white, and 883 276 (32.5%) were aged 18 to 34 years. Patients with any of the conditions (except injury or poisoning) had lower odds of drinking at low-risk and unhealthy levels relative to no reported use compared with those without the condition. Among 861 427 patients reporting alcohol use, patients with diabetes (odds ratio [OR], …
#Alcohol, Alcoholic Beverages and Risk of #Esophageal Cancer by Histological Type: A Dose–Response Meta-Analysis of Observational Studies
https://2medical.news/2020/06/10/alcohol-alcoholic-beverages-and-risk-of-esophageal-cancer-by-histological-type-a-dose-response-meta-analysis-of-observational-studies/
We conducted a dose–response meta-analysis to explore the association between alcohol and particular alcoholic beverages with risk of esophageal cancer (EC) by histological type [esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC)] and whether the association differs according to gender.. A total of 74 published articles involving 31,105 cases among 3,369,024 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled RRs of the highest versus …
https://2medical.news/2020/06/10/alcohol-alcoholic-beverages-and-risk-of-esophageal-cancer-by-histological-type-a-dose-response-meta-analysis-of-observational-studies/
We conducted a dose–response meta-analysis to explore the association between alcohol and particular alcoholic beverages with risk of esophageal cancer (EC) by histological type [esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) and esophageal adenocarcinoma (EAC)] and whether the association differs according to gender.. A total of 74 published articles involving 31,105 cases among 3,369,024 participants were included in this meta-analysis. The pooled RRs of the highest versus …