Drinking a daily glass of wine for health reasons may not be so healthy after all, a new study from Washington University School of Medicine suggests.
Analyzing data from more than 400,000 people between ages 18 to 85, the researchers found that consuming one to two drinks four or more times per week-an amount considered healthy by current guidelines-increases the risk of early death by 20 percent, compared with drinking three times a week or less. The increased risk of death was consistent across age groups.
＂It used to seem like having one or two drinks per day was no big deal, and there even have been some studies suggesting it can improve health,” said first author Sarah M. Hartz. “But now we know that even the lightest daily drinkers have an increased death risk. ”
Although some earlier studies have linked light drinking to improvements in cardiovascular(心血管的）health, Hartz said the new study shows that those potential gains are outweighed by other risks. Her team evaluated heart disease risk and cancer risk and found that although in some cases, drinking alcohol may reduce risk of heart-related problems, daily drinking increased cancer risk and, as a result, mortality risk.
The new study reviewed data from more than 700 studies around the world and concluded that the safest level of drinking is none. The Washington University team analysis focused on light drinkers: those who consumed only one or two drinks a day. The study focused on two large groups of people in the United States: 340,668 participants, aged 18 to 85, in the National Health Interview Survey, and another 93,653 individuals, aged 40 to 60 who were treated as outpatients(门诊病人）at Veterans Administration clinics.
Hartz thought that some doctors could recommend that people with family histories of heart problems have a drink from time to time, but in families with a history of cancer, physicians had better recommend quitting drinking.
【小题1】What's the new finding of the study on light drinking?| A．It benefits heart health. |
| B．It is potentially unhealthy. |
| C．It is the main cause of cancer. |
| D．It harms only certain age groups. |
| A．By collecting, clinical data. |
| B．By analyzing questionnaires. |
| C．By visiting hospitals personally. |
| D．By making an analysis of other studies. |
| A．Earlier studies are proved totally wrong by Hartz. |
| B．Hartz thought doctors should avoid suggesting drinking. |
| C．Hartz thought doctors should offer personalized suggestions. |
| D．The Washington University team surveyed about 700 people. |
| A．Daily drinking, however much, adds to risk of death |
| B．Risk of drinking wine can't be ignored among youth · |
| C．A sip of wine a day keeps the doctor away |
| D．Light drinking still promises a longer life: |
