Risks and Benefits of Alcohol Consumption

Memo

To: Lynn Gibbons-Beddow, Lecturer
From: Dustin Ramsey; Alcohol Group, English 102.30, Spring 2009
Date: 2/20/09
Re: ”Overview of the Risks and Benefits of Alcohol Consumption” by Kenneth J. Mukamal, MD

Introduction:

One of the articles chosen by the research group for alcohol is “Overview of the Risks and Benefits of Alcohol Consumption” by Kenneth J Mukamal, MD. In this article Dr. Mukamal discusses both the positive and negative effects of consuming alcohol. Dr. Mukamal addresses the consumption of alcohol, the health benefits of drinking alcohol, and a number of different diseases associated with alcohol consumption. Moderate alcohol consumption may actually improve health; however, a subset of alcohol drinkers develops catastrophic complications related to its use. The alcohol research group will be discussing the effects alcohol has on one’s health. The statistics given in this article will strongly support the group’s research findings.

· Article Summary

In this article, Dr. Mukamal discusses the effects alcohol has on the human body, the age groups that are affected the most, different reason for consuming alcohol, and the most common injuries sustained under the influence of alcohol. The author states many facts and statistics relating to the use of alcohol and its effects on the human body. He also discusses the advantages of alcohol consumption in moderation. Despite some benefits of moderate alcohol consumption, alcohol has more advantages than disadvantages (Mukamal).

The ill effects of alcohol discussed by the author range from the social stigma of being considered an alcoholic to deadly diseases caused from continuous alcohol consumption. Studies have shown that excessive drinking for both men and women can eventually lead to cardiac disease, hypertension, peripheral vascular disease, and can increase the risk of breast cancer (Mukamal).

The author then states that no long-term studies have been conducted, so the findings relate strictly to short-term usage. “Integrating these risks and benefits into a recommendation about drinking alcohol poses a challenge and will be discussed here,” says Dr. Mukamal. Mukamal references numerous studies conducted and gives details of the results. The article identifies the effects of alcohol on certain illness such as cardiovascular disease and breast cancer. Dr. Mukamal discusses the chance of relapse of former alcoholics and the transformation of an alcoholic to an abstainer.

· Agree/Disagree

Although the author suggests the consumption of alcohol has beneficial effects on cardiovascular diseases, the group does not believe that these effects are any more beneficial to a healthy individual than a healthy diet and a strict exercise regimen. No evidence exists showing that an already healthy individual would benefit more from moderate alcohol consumption or from a healthier lifestyle. The group believes that there has been little research conducted the long-term comparison between moderate alcohol consumption and a healthier lifestyle, so they do not agree with the suggestion that moderate alcohol consumption has a positive influence on an individual’s cardiovascular health. The negative effects of consuming alcohol strongly outweigh the positive in both men and women of all age groups (Mukamal).

· Conclusion

This article was very informative and strongly relates to the group’s research and findings. In the list of disadvantages to the consumption of alcohol, Dr. Mukamal gives a number of diseases and the role that alcohol plays in each disease. Mukamal also outlines the positive effects in this article. The information from this article has been helpful to the group and given them new ideas to research.

· Role in Further Research

This article has will play a significant role in further research for the group. It has given the group new ideas and points of view for their research. The article cites many research articles on the subject of alcohol and states several statistics that relate to the interview and topical debate areas of the group’s research. The group has also found a new point of research in the debate on moderate alcohol consumption versus a healthier lifestyle. The group feels that this is a subject that needs more research both by the group and society. The article has become a resource in itself for the group.
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Work Cited
Mukumal, Kenneth J., MD. “Overview of the Risks and Benefits of Alcohol Consumption.”UpToDate. 10 April 2008. http://www.uptodate.com/online/content/topic.do ?topicKey=genr med/4638&selectedTitle=1~150&source=search_result