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Dr. Vivek Murthy has been Surgeon General of the United States twice, for two presidencies, but I got to know him best in his second term, where I had the privilege of interviewing him several times, in coordination with each of his advisors, and I learned first-hand how this advice relates to real-world trends and crises. Health. From anxious teens to anxious parents, to the loneliness epidemic, to extreme violence, to the negative impact of social media, Murthy has had an important impact on public perception.
In his new will… Just released this weekMurthy warns of the link between alcohol and several types of cancer, which mainly affect the digestive system and breast.
This is especially important because previous generations believed that some alcoholic beverages might actually be beneficial, at least in small amounts. But Murthy points out that alcohol is actually the third leading preventable cause of cancer, after tobacco and obesity. “Alcohol is a known and preventable cause of cancer and is responsible for approximately 100,000 cancer cases and 20,000 cancer deaths annually in the United States,” he said in his report on Friday.
Alcohol linked to cancer risk in new US Surgeon General advisory
As usual, in addition to pointing out a health problem, Murthy also not only analyzes the causes but also gives helpful suggestions on what to do about it. In terms of causes, as Murthy points out, alcohol leads to an increase in estrogen, which increases the risk of breast cancer.
US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy has made it clear in his latest advice that less is more when it comes to alcohol. (Getty Images)
Alcohol is metabolized in the body into aldehyde, which can damage DNA, impair its repair mechanisms and lead to cancer. Alcohol also induces “oxidative stress,” which can also damage DNA and cause inflammation, and inflammation is linked to cancer. Like tobacco, alcohol is a Group 1 carcinogen.
As for what we can do about it, Murthy asks us, doctors and health professionals like me, to help raise awareness of the problem, while at the same time asking the government to re-evaluate consumption guidelines. Less is more when it comes to alcohol.
Evidence shows that true prevention is a lifestyle choice that happens before you even get to the doctor's office.
Murthy points out that the majority of Americans don't realize this risk, especially a problem when you consider that the pandemic has led to at least 25 percent of Americans drinking more due to stress. https://covid19.nih.gov/news-and-stories/risky-drinking-alcohol-use-epidemic-inside-covid-19-pandemicStress is a known reason for seeking alcohol for comfort.
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Alcohol is physically and psychologically addictive, which is why Murthy's warning is timely. Evidence shows that true prevention is a lifestyle choice that happens before you even get to the doctor's office. This promises to be a focus for Health and Human Services under the incoming Trump administration. If you drink less, exercise and sleep more, and eat healthier foods, the chances of you needing to see me or another internist for chronic health problems, including cancer, are much lower.
Since the days when Surgeon General C. Everett Cobb argued that smoking cigarettes was dangerous to your health, and ended up saving millions of lives as a result, and the position of Surgeon General worked better as a place to advocate for health care, rather than as a political appointment.
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In my appreciation and the appreciation of others, Dr. Vivek Murthy has performed this role admirably. Based on his important book on loneliness, he uses the post-pandemic mental health crisis to offer important advice on loneliness, social media, depression, violence, parenting, and now alcohol.
It is wise to heed his warnings before we deal with illness instead of health.
