Recreational alcohol use is big business in the United States, but could our obsession with wine, beer, and craft cocktails be doing more damage than we realize?
According to the 2015 National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 86.4% of people ages 18 or older shared that they drank alcohol at some point in their lifetime; 70.1% shared that they drank in the last year; 56.0% shared that they drank in the last month.
While many health experts say that moderate alcohol consumption is generally safe, it can still pose a risk to health. This is especially true when consumption is not moderate as with alcohol use disorder. In these cases, there can be an increased risk of high blood pressure and stroke, liver damage, decreased bone density, digestive issues, and even hearing loss.
Alcohol and hearing loss
Once considered a relatively harmless pastime, drinking alcohol is now coming into focus as a risky choice. More and more health experts are weighing the pros and cons and digging deeper into how alcohol really affects us beyond a quick buzz. New research is shining light on how alcohol, specifically excessive use of it, can damage hearing in more ways than one.
As more of the effects of drinking and alcohol use disorder come to light, experts warn that even moderate, regular drinking may pose a risk to hearing health.
If you believe your hearing has been negatively impacted by alcohol consumption or alcohol use disorder, contact your health practitioner, hearing health provider or ENT to learn more.
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