Kentuckians binge drink more often than residents of any other state, national survey for federal health agency finds

By Tara Kaprowy
Kentucky Health News

Kentuckians binge drink an average of about six times per month, more often than people living in any other state, a report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found.

Binge drinking is defined as consuming four or more drinks for women and five or more drinks for men on one occasion. Nationwide, 17 percent of adults binge drink, up from 15 percent in a 2009 survey. That's one in six people, averaging four binges a month and eight drinks per binge (CDC graphic).

Excessive and binge drinking "causes more than 80,000 deaths in the United States each year, making it the third leading preventable cause of death," reports MSNBC. Binge drinkers are at an increased risk for liver disease, heart disease, of being in a car accident and engaging in violent behavior.

The report analyzed data from a 2010 telephone survey of 458,000 adults who described their previous 30 days of drinking. "Although the percentage of people reporting binge drinking was highest among young people, it was binge drinkers ages 65 and older who over-consumed the most often: this group reported an average of five to six episodes a month," MSNBC reports.

Though Kentuckians binge drink most often, residents of Wisconsin drink the most alcohol — up to 9 drinks on one occasion — and had the highest percentage, 25.6, of people who said they binge drink. Utah and West Virginia has the lowest share of people who say they binge drink, 10.9 percent. New Jersey had the lowest frequency, 3.6 times per month. (Read more)

Meanwhile, a study found drinking alcohol leads to the release of endorphins in parts of the brain that are responsible for feelings of pleasure and reward, says research-reporting service Newswise. "This is something that we've speculated about for 30 years, based on animal studies, but haven't observed in humans until now," said lead author Jennifer Mitchell, clinical project director at the Gallo Center at the University of California-San Francisco. "It provides the first direct evidence of how alcohol makes people feel good."

Excessive alcohol consumption costs the country about $223.5 billion per year, "mostly due to lost workplace productivity and increased health care costs," reports Sarah Kiff for The Washington Post. (Photo by Uselei Marcelino, Reuters)

A study by Canadian researchers has found that setting a minimum alcohol price can drive down those costs — and is more accepted by the public than imposing taxes. The researchers found "for every 10 percent hike in minimum alcohol price, they found people drank 3.4 percent less alcohol," Kiff reports. "For certain drinks, the effect was even more pronounced: Increasing the minimum price of wine by 10 percent correlates with an 8.9 percent drop in consumption. Beer, however, appeared relatively resilient to price fluctuations, with a 10 percent bump lowering consumption a paltry 1.5 percent."

England and Wales have passed legislation that prohibits the sale of below-cost alcohol. Scotland is considering a similar move. (Read more)

Kentucky Health News is a service of the Institute for Rural Journalism and Community Issues, based in the School of Journalism and Telecommunications at the University of Kentucky, with support from the Foundation for a Healthy Kentucky.

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Alcohol on an empty stomach is deadly - Swedish scientists

The consumption of alcohol should be a good snack: drinking on an empty stomach can be life-threatening, especially for diabetics

The research, conducted under the guidance of professor endocrinologist, head physician of the Stockholm hospital Sedershyukhyus Oke Sheholma, showed that alcohol consumption is 4 times the body increases production of insulin.

When blood alcohol content of 0.4 ppm of blood flow in the pancreas is activated by 4 times, which means instant processing of sugar as a result of a fourfold increase in the splitting of insulin.

"Man is a very strong impact: it is covered with cold sweat, heart rate quickens, it is difficult savvy and could run into an aggressive state. This is a very strong stress on the body - low sugar ", - says Åke Sheholm, transfers medicinews.ru.

For diabetics, the risks associated with alcohol, even higher. Direct relationship between insulin and the splitting of the presence of alcohol in the blood explains why the body needs more food when it has to process the alcohol: there is a shortage of sugar. This circumstance explains why, after he had drunk a sensation of hunger.

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Alcohol causes cancer of the mouth and throat - scientists

Alcohol is a major cause of much more frequent cases of cancer of the mouth and throat among the forty-year men and women. This conclusion was British scientists

According to statistics, the number of cases of cancer of lips, tongue, gums and throat in people aged 40 to 50 years increased by 28% (men) and 24% (women) over the last decade.

At the same time, alcohol consumption, for example, in Britain s1950 years has doubled, and British scientists and oncologists believe that this fact, along with smoking, is the most likely explanation for the frequent cases of cancer of the mouth, says "BBC" .

"People do not even realize how close is the relationship between alcohol and cancer. Liver disease is still considered the main result of alcohol abuse. However, more and more people begin to suffer oncology because of their addiction, "- said the executive director of the organization conducting the alcohol policy, Don Shenker.

In addition, another possible cause of cancer such physicians consider the lack of fruits and vegetables in the human diet.

Each year from cancer of the mouth and throat in the UK about 1800 people die. Each year, doctors diagnosed a disappointing endure five thousand patients. According to doctors, oral cancer treatment is applied if it is detected early.

The main signs of the emergence of the disease are ulcers, cracks, white or red patches in the mouth that do not go more than three weeks. Pain or discomfort in the ears can also indicate the development process.

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ALCOHOL ABUSE

The alcohol concentration in blood is measured and reported in parts per thousand. It is the blood alcohol concentration depends both on the recorded amount of alcohol and by the same food consumed and on the sex and body weight. Furthermore, the speed with which the body breaks down the recorded alcohol, an important role. Although the alcohol level is subject to supply a specific amount consumed large individual fluctuations and thus are not exactly predictable is, can be formulated but the following rule of thumb: A 70-kg man has for a pint of beer or half a liter of wine a blood alcohol level of about 0.5 per thousand. In general, at this concentration, the critical capacity is already reduced, inhibitions and generally applicable standards are easily overcome. When blood concentrations of 0.5 parts per thousand, the legal limit is reached, the ability to drive, at levels above 2 parts per thousand to develop strong intoxication, which may then with increasing concentration in unconsciousness with respiratory paralysis and death.

occur when alcohol intoxication decreased continue thinking and response, coordination problems in speaking and walking, double vision, nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain, diarrhea, weakness, muscle cramps, headache, dizziness, weak and rapid pulse and lower temperature. The psychological effects are individual and vary depending on the degree of intoxication, from euphoria, good humor, aggression and self-esteem to inertia, fatigue or depressed mood. Of alcoholism is when someone consumes more than a year, large amounts of alcohol, lost control on alcohol use is adversely affected thereby and has physically, mentally and socially. Long-term physical damage for example severe chronic gastric and pancreatic inflammation, fatty liver and cirrhosis of the liver, brain and nerve damage, blood disorders, eye disorders, tremors, insomnia and impotence. Typical psychological symptoms include personality changes, psychosis and hallucinations.

Common causes of alcohol intoxication:
* Drinking too fast. Alcohol is metabolised in the liver only gradually to acetic acid. For very fast drinking quickly follows a high blood alcohol concentration.
* Over-estimation of alcohol breakdown in the body. Per hour per kilogram of body weight in men only 0.1 grams of alcohol removed, less in women about 15%.
* Drink, without having eaten. With an empty stomach, the alcohol is absorbed faster from the stomach into the bloodstream. Coffee also accelerates the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream.
* Drinking sweetened alcoholic beverages, eg Cocktails and mulled wine. Sugar accelerates the absorption of alcohol into the bloodstream. Fatty foods slow the other hand, the increase in blood alcohol level.
* Drinking different types of alcohol leads to a faster rush. Of low-quality alcohol is easier to get headaches, not necessarily because of the alcohol, but because of the additives.
* Some people can, heredity, alcohol not degrade as fast as the average, so they are faster intoxicated.
* Women are more vulnerable to alcohol than men ("tolerate less").
* And of course, drink too much! Beer has about 2-6% alcohol, wine and sparkling wine 7-10%, 15-17% dessert wine, liqueurs 30-35%, 45% liquor, rum 40-80%.

What can you do if so.
* Fresh air and cold showers make the blood pumping.
* High heat and heavy physical exertion avoided.
* Some painkillers for headaches, stomach hyperacidity remedy for stomach complaints.
* At the first signs of hunger take light meals.
* No alcoholic beverages, but drink plenty of fluids.

When you need a doctor.
* If you find that you no longer cope without alcohol. If you realize that your alcohol consumption compared with earlier risen significantly. If you drink to forget problems. The occurrence of physical withdrawal symptoms when trying to abstinence. If you recently several times a "blackout" had been so intoxicated so that a memory gap remains.
* If you even have someone help who has an acute alcohol poisoning, protect it from cooling down and bring him to the hospital. They will also carry out Urgent gastric lavage and stabilize circulation and respiration.
* Also a member of an alcoholic or a person who is suspected of alcohol abuse, you can contact a doctor you trust for advice and help! The physician in any event subject to professional secrecy.

Attention.
* Alcohol during pregnancy are at high risk for decreased birth weight and birth defects of the baby.
* Taking psychotropic drugs, sleeping pills or strong painkillers may occur in relation to alcohol effects to changes in the drug and even for small amounts of alcohol poisoning.

Prevention.
* One thing is certain: Alcohol is a stimulant in small amounts. In higher doses it is an intoxicant, and in any case, a cell toxin. The following tips can help keep the alcohol consumption in limits:
* Do not drink to forget problems.
* Drink in the company rather than alone.
* In celebration set in advance a quantity of alcohol that gets you. This will also tell others to help you stick to it. Let us then not "talk" to continue drinking.
* Glasses before the drink refills are only for better control.
* Each party briefly think through the negative experiences with alcohol as long as you are still completely sober.

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