This fact highlights the urgency of curbing the disease significantly, and the first step towards it is prevention.Therefore, it is important to know about the risk factors and avoid them in our life.

Consumption of alcohol is often associated with numerous health issues, and breast cancer is one of them. Several studies and research have stated that there is a causal relationship between alcohol and breast cancer.Knowing a little more about this connection has always enticed the health experts to come up with new discoveries in the field of oncology.

How Is Alcohol Connected to Breast Cancer?

Over the years, various studies have examined the link between alcohol and breast cancer and most of them have shown a positive association. A report by the World Cancer Research Fund found out that drinking alcohol increases the risk of breast cancer. Hence, if someone wants to reduce their risk of breast cancer, they must quit alcohol. Moreover, alcohol is not just a risk factor for breast cancer but is also associated with other serious diseases like cirrhosis, liver cancer, depression and other cardiovascular diseases.

How Does It Increase the Breast Cancer Risk?

The question is what happens after alcohol consumption- How does it lead to breast cancer?

Below are some of the theories that explain the possible ways in which alcohol raises the risk of breast cancer:

• Increase in estrogen level: High consumption of alcohol leads to the overproduction of estrogen which is known to fuel the development of breast cancer.
• Production of acetaldehyde: As a normal response, the body breaks down alcohol into acetaldehyde. This substance is quite toxic and can damage the DNA inside the cells preventing them from repairing themselves. Such accumulation can lead to breast cancer.
• Low folate levels: Alcohol lowers the level of folic acid that acts as a protective shield against cancer in the breast.

How Much of Alcohol Is Enough?

Though abstinence is the best option, at least people can moderate alcohol consumption to reduce the risk of breast cancer. According to healthcare specialists, even one drink per day increases the chances of getting breast cancer.Now, people get confused with the amount of one drink. Mostly, one drink is considered equal to 12 ounces of beer, 1.5 ounces of hard liquor or 5 ounces of wine.

An interesting fact about alcohol consumption is that the antioxidants in red wine are known to protect heart’s vessels and reduce the risk of heart diseases. Our cancer experts at Max Healthcare recommend quitting the consumption of alcohol altogether, to not only keep oneself safe from breast cancer but from other diseases as well.

When Avoiding Alcohol is Must

Some of the conditions when people must avoid consumption of alcohol are as follows:

• Having a first degree relative with breast cancer
• Age above 50 years
• Being overweight
• Pregnancy and breastfeeding
• During other medical conditions like dementia, ulcers and liver disease

Conclusion

If one wishes to know more about the breast cancer, they can visit the best oncologist in Delhi and clear all the doubts. It is always a good idea to have a clear understanding of possible health hazards to act well in time before any irreversible damage comes uninvited.

ALSO READ- Breast Cancer : Advances in Diagnosis and Treatment that may change the course of the Disease