Attention News Editor:

News Feature                             For Immediate Release

                                                                                                                      June 16, 2006

A Hangover May Be The Least Of Your Worries

Most people know drinking too much alcohol can lead to some unwelcome symptoms the next day. The trademark headache, upset stomach and fatigue you experience from a hangover may be the least of your concerns. According to the World Health Organization, alcohol is the third most harmful risk factor for chronic disease (WHO, 2003).

Research indicates drinking more than one standard drink per day for women and two for men is associated with increased risks of high blood pressure, stroke and some types of cancer.  As the amount of alcohol consumed increases, the risk of these conditions also increases. “We need to clear up misconceptions that people may have about alcohol and health,” says Marie Barclay, Coordinator of the Grey Bruce FOCUS Project. “The bottom line is that for healthy people who choose to drink, reducing intake will help reduce the risk for chronic disease and other alcohol-related problems.”

This month, FOCUS communities across Ontario are launching a province-wide campaign to raise awareness about alcohol and chronic disease, including the risk of stroke. Drinking more than 1-2 drinks per day and binge drinking (more than five drinks at one time) can double the risk of ischemic stroke and increase the risk of hemorrhagic stroke two-to three-fold. Alcohol use at these levels increases the risk of stroke by raising the blood pressure and contributing to obesity.

So if you don’t drink, don’t start. If you choose to drink alcohol on occasion, the best advice is to limit your intake to no more than one or two standard drinks a day. The weekly limit for women is nine drinks; for men, it's 14. Remember, there are some situations where you should not drink at all (e.g., pregnancy, addiction, some chronic illnesses, driving).

The FOCUS Community Program is an initiative of the Ministry of Health Promotion. Grey Bruce FOCUS Project is one of 22 FOCUS communities in the Province of Ontario.  The overall goal of the program is to prevent problems, including injuries and chronic disease associated with alcohol and other drug use.

For more information on low-risk drinking, call Grey Bruce FOCUS at Public Health,

1-800-263-3456 or visit our website at www.focus-alcohol.org

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For more information:

Marie Barclay, R.N. B.N.

Coordinator, Grey Bruce FOCUS Project

519-376-9420 ext. 405