APRIL IS ALCOHOL AWARENESS MONTH

Over time, excessive alcohol use can lead to numerous health problems including cardiovascular disease, cancers, anxiety, depression, dementia and liver disease.

Guidelines for Moderate Alcohol Use: one drink a day for women (any age) or men older than age 65, or up to two drinks a day for men age 65 or younger.

What is considered one drink?

• Twelve ounces of beer (about 5% alcohol)
• Five ounces of wine (about 12% alcohol)
• 1.5 ounces of 80-proof hard liquor (about 40% alcohol)

Signs & symptoms that indicate you or a loved one may have an alcohol problem:

• Unable to limit the amount of alcohol you drink
• Feeling the need to cut down on the amount you drink & being unsuccessful
• Spending a lot of time drinking or recovering from alcohol use
• Feeling a craving or urge to drink alcohol
• Failing to fulfill major obligations at work, school or home due to alcohol use
• Continuing to drink alcohol even though it's causing physical, social or interpersonal problems
• Using alcohol when it's not safe, such as when driving or swimming
• Experiencing withdrawal symptoms (nausea, sweating, shaking) when you don't drink.

Take the Alcohol Self-Assessment to determine if you or a loved one may have an alcohol problem. Find out more about the effects of alcohol on your body.

The above information is provided by the CDC, NCADD, mayoclinic.org, verywell.com, webmd and NIAAA.