Chennai: It’s not just smoking that kills but drinking also contributes to reducing lifespan. A recent study published in the medical journal Lancet reveals that five standard 175ml glasses of alcohol a week not only raises the risk of heart failure and stroke, but also decreases life by 30 minutes from the expected lifespan of a 40-year-old.
The report estimated that a 40-year-old drinking four units a day more than the recommended daily limit reduces life expectancy by approximately two years, which is about 20 per cent of the lifespan of the individual.
Smoking is believed to reduce about 15 minutes of life each day, which is equivalent to each unit of alcohol above the normal level.
The study included data from around 6 lakh current drinkers, with half of them reported drinking more than 100g per week, and 8.4 per cent of them were found to drink more than 350g per week. It was found that those drinking more than 100g per week, cut their life expectancy by six months, between 200g to 350g per week reduced one to two years of life, while those consuming 350g a week, reduced five to six hours of life.
Medicos say that drinking can not only cause cardiovascular diseases but also lead to mental and psycho-neurological problems such as dementia that can also affect drinkers.
