Doctors share alcohol recommendations for men and women as guidelines change

The new federal Dietary Guidelines for Americans suggest simply limiting alcohol consumption to improve health.

The revised guidance challenges previous standards that set moderate limits on alcohol consumption: one drink a day for women and two drinks a day for men.

According to experts, a standard drink is about 12 ounces of beer, five ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of liquor.

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Binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks per day for women and five or more drinks per day for men, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA).

Drinking this amount of alcohol in two hours is generally considered binge drinking, causing more than half of alcohol-related deaths in the US.

“It increases the risk of falls, burns, car accidents, memory loss, drug interactions, assault, drowning, and overdose deaths,” the group warns on its website.

Many patients may believe that excessive drinking is not a concern because they can “hold the alcohol,” but having a high tolerance for alcohol is actually a bigger reason to worry, the NIAAA said.

Binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks per day for women and five or more drinks per day for men.

“People with this trait tend to drink more and are therefore at greater risk for alcohol-related problems,” the Institute said.

“Patients who drink within the limits of dietary guidelines may also be unaware that even if they do not feel a ‘buzz,’ driving may be impaired.”

“The less you drink, the better”

Dr. Marc Siegel, senior medical analyst for News, said he agrees with the changing guidelines because any standard set sends an “unintentional message that a certain amount of alcohol is safe.”

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“Setting an arbitrary number doesn’t mean much, especially since people tend not to follow it anyway,” he told News Digital.

“Not only that, but because alcohol is addictive, what starts as one drink quickly turns into two… it’s a social lubricant and it has a positive side, but it’s also a toxin.”

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Siegel suggested there should be more guidelines on the risks alcohol poses to the liver and heart, as well as the dangers of drinking while driving.

“The less you drink, the better,” he said. “Alcohol impairs judgment and can be easily mixed with other harmful drugs such as cannabis, [and can] cause serious and fatal car accidents.

Isaac Dapkins, MD, medical director and designated institutional official at NYU Langone Family Health Centers, stressed the importance of limiting alcohol.

“No one should start drinking (or continue drinking) because they think it’s good for them.”

While men and women differ based on age, body size and other environmental factors, women’s bodies may metabolize less alcohol than men, the doctor told News Digital.

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In a separate interview with News Digital, Dr. Mark Hyman, co-founder of Function Health in California, highlighted how women have a higher risk of developing certain cancers due to hormonal changes.

Men, meanwhile, may be more likely to binge drink, the doctor noted, since a single episode of heavy drinking could increase the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Hyman debunked the myth that drinking can be good for your heart health.

“Drinking alcohol has no benefits for cardiovascular health,” he said. “These claims were based primarily on observational research, with many confounding factors.”

The doctor added: “Less [alcohol] is better, and abstinence is better. “No one should start drinking (or continue drinking) because they think it is good for them.”

Know your risk

Dapkins recommends that people consult their primary care doctor to discuss their personal risk.

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“There is no longer a ‘one size fits all’ status for most conditions,” he said. “Much new information has been discovered about how to characterize an individual’s risk based on family history, behaviors, and current medical conditions.”

For anyone with a personal history of tobacco use (or a family history of breast cancer, atrial fibrillation, or substance abuse), Dapkins’ advice is to avoid alcohol.

“There is a significant association between alcohol consumption and atrial fibrillation (or A. Fib.), high blood pressure and breast, mouth and throat cancers,” he warned. “A. Fib. can cause a stroke and is directly associated with alcohol intake.”

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For those without a personal or family history, the concern would be less, according to Dapkins.

“If you choose to drink in moderation, your doctor can detect health problems early to reduce your risk,” he continued. “The best option is to have a trusted doctor with whom you have a long-term relationship.”