Washington University’s School of Medicine suggests a glass of wine a day can increase risks of earlier death; according to their findings in a study involving upwards of 400,000 adults light drinking regardless of age increases risk of dying by 20%. The researchers claim that moderate drinking in some cases may reduce risk of heart disease, but those benefits are out weighted by other damaging effects of alcohol which lead to elevated risks of cancer, and mortality among others, with such risks taken into account drinking at all was detrimental to health.
Data was analyzed from a federal study conducted by the CDC involving over 340,668 people between the ages of 18 to 85; and other involving 93,653 adults outpatients at the Veterans Administration facilities between the ages of 40 to 60. It was calculated that those who drank 1 to 2 drinks a day at least 4 times a week were at 20% increased risk of being more likely to fall victim to early death than those who drank 1 drink per day on 3 or less days per week.
20% may not seem like a big deal, but added to other health issues that increases risk to both. Mortality rates increase with age, putting those that are older at even higher risks, once again being higher when that person also has a health issue. Not many people die in their 20s, mortality is small but still significant, which translates into many for deaths to people in their 70s and above.
Researchers suggest that unless a physician tells you otherwise it is not safe/wise for anyone to justify a glass of wine a day for health benefits due to the increase in mortality and other risks being detrimental to health.
