Binge Drinking

Binge drinking remains extraordinarily common in our society and throughout the world. It represents the most costly and deadly pattern of drinking affecting more than 38 million Americans. By definition binge drinking involves consumption of at least 5 alcoholic beverages typically within about 2 hours or so for a man or more than 3 drinks for a woman.
Typically binge drinking suffices to raise the blood alcohol level to in excess of 0.08% or the legal limit for driving under the influence. A standard drink contains 1 ounce of distilled spirits, 5 ounces of wine or 12 ounces of beer. These various choices contain identical quantities of alcohol.
About 75% of individuals over age 18 at least occasionally consume alcohol which is a significant increase from the 65% of 20-30 years ago. Of those who drink, an estimated 1 in 6 will binge at least monthly with an average of 4 episodes each month. In spite of all the public health messages, still 1 in 25 pregnant women binge drink.
Unfortunately this unhealthy pattern often begins in high school or even before. Hispanics binge more than Caucasians who in turn binge twice as frequently as African Americans. Native Americans appear at most risk with Asians relatively protected due to lack of an enzyme necessary to detoxify alcohol.
Men are affected more commonly than women. However binge drinking in women appears to be increasing at an alarming rate. At least in part this relates to advertising suggesting romance, sex and stress relief associated with drinking. Unfortunately due to smaller body size, women remain more susceptible to adverse effects of alcohol including cancer in general and breast cancer in particular.
Many who binge drink did not intend to consume excessive amounts. Rather the motive might be to have fun, to feel more sociable and relaxed, to forget problems or to better fit in with peers.
Most binge drinkers do not fit the definition for being alcoholics, but they suffer an enormous array of adverse medical consequences nevertheless. These include driving while intoxicated, impaired memory, accumulated permanent structural damage to the brain and an increased incidence of sexual assault, homicides, suicides and intimate partner violence.
Even 1-2 drinks a day increase the risk of breast cancer, but malignant tumors of the mouth, pharynx, esophagus, liver, colon and rectum steadily become more frequent among binge drinkers. Rather than the once held propaganda that a drink or two enhances cardiovascular health, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now suggests any amount of alcohol damages the heart. Binge drinkers face an increased likelihood of high blood pressure, stroke, cardiac rhythm disturbances, heart attack and sudden death.
Binge drinking leads to depression which in turn further aggravates the drinking habit. Impulsive behaviors and sexually transmitted infections not infrequently accompany the alcohol blackouts, hangovers, nausea, vomiting and general malaise that follow a binge.

[@seth6726]

This channel is a gold mine. RIP Dr Landow what a legend

[@MoustacheAlexander]

You are an undiscovered KZbin Star!

[@danhunt7287]

Basically don't drink...get to your 30s then reconsider it...my advice..

[@BigupSlime]

I remember when someone first told me that MOST people who drink, don’t drink with the goal of getting hammered. Blew my mind.

[@zuffazombiekilla]

Before I got on clonazepam I drank a lot...It got rid of my anxiety for a while...The withdraw symptoms the next day is really not worth it...It makes a normal panic attack extreme.

[@benalexender3046]

Thanks from Egypt 🇪🇬

[@diannabryant7879]

For anybody who is not fearful of trying something different, probably one of the solutions talked about in Steffon Barkload's homepagw will make you break the addiction in approximately one hour or maybe even less.

[@RespectTheReef]

Can you do one on anabolics?

[@heartbasedresearchtoajourn8158]

Is 40 tins of beer or 4 days every 4-5 weeks alcoholic

[@TboneWestSeattle]

A man much smarter than me once said “if you gotta ask if you’re an alcoholic you are”

[@willthomsen7569]

What if you only have 2 triple size drinks? Lol that’s a hack I think

[@danhunt7287]

Wow the doc never said anything about wanting you to stick around more so in alcohol than any other drug on his channel...mostly alcohol is the route cause of all other drug problems....weed isn't the gateway...alcohol is.

[@fallenstraw289]

i LIke TUrrTlesS