If a man is drinking too much alcohol then it can have a significant impact on his health and wellbeing.
Though alcohol and sports are often seen to go hand in hand as a result of alcohol industry marketing and advertising, the fact is that drinking alcohol is only likely to result in a physique and performance far removed from that of a professional sportsman.
Weight gain is one of the first issues, with the empty calories in alcohol quickly amounting to the dreaded beer belly or love handles. If you’re conscious that your drinking is changing your body shape or affecting your performance – on or off the pitch – it is time to cut down.
If you’re a man who regularly drinks above the low-risk drinking guidelines you are at greater risk from a wide range of health issues – from low energy and sexual difficulties in the short-term to heart disease and several cancers in the long-term.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) points out that alcohol consumption is a causal factor in more than 200 disease and injury conditions, including liver cirrhosis, cancer, heart disease, and injuries resulting from violence and road collisions.
However, if you keep within your low-risk drinking guidelines then you can minimise the potential damage that alcohol can cause and, importantly, ensure that you are giving your best when comes to looking after your physical and mental health, as well as your performance in all areas of life.
- You look better – easier to manage weight and healthier skin (alcohol dehydrates the skin, dilates small blood vessels and can make it look red and blotchy)
- Better performance on and off the pitch
- Improved mental health
- Better sleep
- Increased energy
- Save money
- Lower risk of several cancers
- Lower risk of stroke and heart disease
Boost you health with the help of Alcohol Action Ireland’s information leaflet Men & Alcohol: Making the Drink Link, which includes key facts that are good to know and lists some handy tips to help you cut down on your alcohol intake.
For further information on men and alcohol in Ireland click here.
For further information on Men’s Health Week please see mhfi.org
