The U.S. surgeon general has released a new advisory warning of alcohol-related cancer risk.Dr. Vivek Murthy issued the guidance on Friday following research that has linked alcohol to at least seven types of cancer.In particular, the advisory notes that alcohol can increase the risk of throat, liver, throat, esophageal, mouth, larynx (voice box) and colorectal cancers.DRINKING ALCOHOL IS LINKED TO SIX TYPES OF CANCER, EXPERTS SAYAlcohol consumption has been named as the “third leading preventable cause of cancer” in the country, the advisory noted, with tobacco and obesity taking the top two spots. The U.S. surgeon general has released a new advisory warning of alcohol-related cancer risk. (iStock)”Alcohol is a well-established, preventable cause of cancer responsible for about 100,000 cases of cancer and 20,000 cancer deaths annually in the United States – greater than the 13,500 alcohol-associated traffic crash fatalities per year in the U.S. – yet the majority of Americans are unaware of this risk,” said Murthy in the advisory. CLICK HERE TO SIGN UP FOR OUR HEALTH NEWSLETTER”This Advisory lays out steps we can all take to increase awareness of alcohol’s cancer risk and minimize harm.”CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The advisory breaks down four different ways in which cancer can increase cancer risk.In one mechanism, the alcohol breaks down into a chemical called acetaldehyde, which damages DNA and increases cancer risk. Dr. Vivek Murthy issued the guidance on Friday following research that has linked alcohol to at least seven types of cancer. (Valerie Plesch/Bloomberg via Getty Images)Alcohol also induces “oxidative stress,” the advisory warns, which damages protein, DNA and cells, and also causes inflammation.In a third mechanism, alcohol changes hormone levels, namely estrogen, which can increase the risk of breast cancer. More than 16% of all breast cancer cases have been linked to alcohol, the advisory states.For more Health articles, visit www.foxnews.com/healthFinally, cancer creates conditions in which alcohol is more easily absorbed into the body.Individual risk for alcohol-related cancers will also depend on “a complex interaction of biological, environmental, social and economic factors,” the same source stated. Melissa Rudy is senior health editor and a member of the lifestyle team at Fox News Digital. Story tips can be sent to melissa.rudy@fox.com.
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