60 diseases and conditions linked to drinking alcohol like beer and wine - from cancer to epilepsy

Drinking alcohol can put you at risk of developing 60 diseases and conditions, including many which were never previously linked boozing - a recent study has found. The consumption of alcohol accounted for in the region of three million deaths worldwide across 2016, and as part of a major study in China, researches have took it upon themselves to analyse the risks regarding boozing.

The harmful effects of binge drinking for certain diseases - including the likes of stroke, cirrhosis, and several types of cancer - are well known, but only a few studies have looked at the major impacts alcohol has on developing an extensive range of diseases and conditions.

Collaboratively, Oxford Population Health and Peking University last month published a brand-new study centred around the long-term health effects of consuming alcoholic beverages. Assessing information from China's Biobank systems, researches determined that 'among men, alcohol intake was associated with 61 diseases, including 33 not defined by the World Health Organization as alcohol-related'.

Read more: Alcohol rules for travelling on flights with Tui, Jet2, EasyJet, Emirates, Ryanair and British Airways

The Mirror reports that gout, cataracts, certain fractures and gastric ulcers are among the new developments related to regular alcohol consumption (a minimum of one drink per week). Published in Nature Medicine, the study found that men who drank alcohol on a regular basis had a significantly higher risk of developing a disease or condition, as well as experiencing more frequent hospitalisations than those who only drank occasionally.

Scientists found that drinking patterns like daily consumption or 'binge' episodes particularly also increased the risks of certain diseases - particularly liver cirrhosis. On the study, author Pek Kei Im, said: "Alcohol consumption is adversely related to a much wider range of diseases than has previously been established, and our findings show these associations are likely to be causal."

Professor Liming Li - who is a senior author and CKB co-PI from Peking University - added: "Levels of alcohol consumption are rising in China, particularly among men. This large collaborative study demonstrates a need to strengthen alcohol control policies in China.

Associate Professor at Oxford Population Health, Iona Milwood - who is also a senior author of the study - meanwhile explained: "It is becoming clear that the harmful use of alcohol is one of the most important risk factors for poor health, both in China and globally."

Diseases and conditions linked to alcohol consumption

1. Tuberculosis
2. Laryngeal cancer
3. Oesophageal cancer
4. Liver cancer
5. Uncertain neoplasm
6. Colon cancer
7. Lung cancer
8. Rectal cancer
9. Other cancer
10. Lip, oral cavity and pharynx cancer
11. Stomach cancer
12. Other anaemias
13. Purpura and other haemorrhagic conditions
14. Other metabolic disorders
15. Diabetes melitus
16. Less common psychiatric and behavioural conditions combined
17. Epilepsy
18. Transient cerebral ischaemic attacks
19. Cataract
20. Phlebitis and thrombophlebitis
21. Cardiomyopathy
22. Intracerebral haemorrhage
23. Sequelae of cerebrovascular disease
24. Hypertensive heart disease
25. Essential (primary) hypertension
26. Cerebral infarction
27. Complications of heart disease
28. Stroke, not specified
29. Occlusion and stenosis of cerebral arteries
30. Occlusion and stenosis of precerebral arteries
31. Other cerebrovascular diseases
32. Chronic ischaemic heart disease
33. Less common circulatory diseases combined
34. Unspecified chronic bronchitis
35. Other chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
36. Pneumonia
37. Alcoholic liver disease
38. Fibrosis and cirrhosis of liver
39. Other inflammatory liver diseases
40. Abscess of anal and rectal regions
41. Gastro−oesophageal reflux disease
42. Gastric ulcer
43. Other diseases of digestive system
44. Other diseases of liver
45. Pancreatitis
46. Other local infections (skin/subcutaneous tissue)
47. Osteonecrosis
48. Gout
49. Other arthrosis
50. Abnormal results of function studies
51. Malaise and fatigue
52. Other ill−defined/unspecified mortality causes
53. Unknown/unspecified morbidity causes
54. Fracture of shoulder and upper arm
55. Fracture of femur
56. Fracture of rib(s)/sternum/thoracic spine
57. Less common injury, poisoning and other external causes combined
58. Intentional self−harm
59. Falls
60. Transport accidents