Alcohol and Your Health

Is alcohol bad for my health?

• Moderate drinking is usually not a problem.
• Some studies even say moderate drinking may help prevent heart disease.
• Drinking too much, however, can damage organs like the liver, heart and brain and cause serious health problems.

What is a safe level of drinking?

• No more than two drinks a day for men
• No more than one drink a day for women and older adults
• One drink equals:
  • one 12-ounce bottle of beer or wine cooler
  • one 5-ounce glass of wine
  • one ounce of 100 proof whiskey.

Are there people who should not drink at all?

Yes. The following people should avoid alcohol:

• women who are pregnant or trying to become pregnant
• people taking certain over-the-counter or prescription drugs
• people with health problems that can become worse from drinking
• people who plan to drive or operate high-speed machinery
• recovering alcoholics
• people under 21.

Can alcohol hurt my kidneys?

Alcohol can hurt your kidneys because:

• It increases your chance of developing high blood pressure, which is a leading cause of kidney disease.
• If you have high blood pressure, alcohol can interfere with your medicines and make it harder to control your pressure. Uncontrolled or poorly controlled high blood pressure is more likely to damage your kidneys.

Is alcohol good for my heart?

• Some studies have shown that moderate drinking may have some benefit.
• Heavy drinking, however, can increase the risk of heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and other serious diseases like liver disease.

Can I drink if I have diabetes?

• Moderate drinking is usually okay as long as you don't do it on an empty stomach.
• Drinking on an empty stomach can cause low blood sugar for several hours.