Cornerstone Family Health

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Cornerstone Family Health

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    • Home
    • About Us
      • Our Mission & Vision
      • Our Team
      • Our Services
    • Patients
      • Helpful Links
      • Guides for Patients
    • Spiritual Care
      • Prayer Request
      • Biblical Counseling
      • Devotional & Gospel Video
      • Verses of Encouragement
    • Get Involved
      • Partner With Us
      • Harvest Hands
      • Donate
    • Contact
  • Home
  • About Us
    • Our Mission & Vision
    • Our Team
    • Our Services
  • Patients
    • Helpful Links
    • Guides for Patients
  • Spiritual Care
    • Prayer Request
    • Biblical Counseling
    • Devotional & Gospel Video
    • Verses of Encouragement
  • Get Involved
    • Partner With Us
    • Harvest Hands
    • Donate
  • Contact

Alcohol & Smoking Guide

Why do drinking and smoking matter?

- Drinking and smoking regularly increases your risk of cancer.  

-Alcohol is classified as a Group 1 (very high risk) carcinogen by the International Agency for Research on Cancer.

-In January 2025, the US Surgeon General issued an advisory describing evidence on how alcohol increases cancer risk

-Tobacco smoke contains over 70 known carcinogens and is the leading cause of cancer death worldwide.

How Alcohol affects your body

Breakdown Process:

Your body turns alcohol into a harmful chemical!


Step 1: Alcohol --> Acetaldehyde (toxic chemical)

- This can damage DNA and raise cancer risk.

Step 2: Acetaldehyde --> Acetate (safe)

-But acetaldehyde lingers long enough before breakdown to cause some harm.

Other ways Alcohol Harms your Health

  • Hormone Imbalance
    → Raises estrogen levels
    → Linked to breast cancer and other cancers
     
  • Nutrient Loss
    → Blocks absorption of vitamins like folate, A, C
    → Weakens your body’s ability to fight cancer
     
  • Weakened Immune System
    → Makes it harder to fight cancer and sickness
     
  • Tissue Damage
    → Irritates mouth, throat, and gut
    → Long-term damage can lead to cancer


  • Liver Failure
    → Damages liver cells, can lead to cirrhosis and cancer
    → Liver failure leads to other chronic illnesses

How much is too much alcohol?

There is NO 100% safe amount to drink. Even one drink a day raises your risk.


More drinks = more damage

 

What Counts as “One Drink”?


  • 12 oz of beer (5% ABV)
     
  • 5 oz of wine (12% ABV)
     
  • 1.5 oz of liquor (40% ABV)

How Smoking affects your body

- Cancer starts when cells grow out of control.

- Chemicals in smoke can damage your DNA, making cancer more likely

- Smoking weakens your lungs

- Nicotine narrows blood vessels and raises blood pressure, which increases the risk of heart attacks and strokes

.

Recovery

Have Questions?

Have Questions?

If you need help recovering from alcohol and smoking, follow these steps: 

- Acknowledge the need for help

- Clear out triggers (Ex: alcohol or smoking related items in your home)

- Create a healthy routine: (Ex: Set times to eat, sleep, etc). Routine helps eliminate cravings.

- Try alternative coping strategies (Ex: Walking, deep breathing, journaling, music, etc)

- Surround yourself with community - reach out to friends, family, and those on the same journey

Have Questions?

Have Questions?

Have Questions?

Talk to your doctor or nurse if you have questions about the information in this guide, or about alcohol and smoking consumption, concerns about your personal consumption, or questions about rehabilitation and recovery. 


Sources and More Info:

https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/risk-factors/alcohol.html

https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/alcohol/alcohol-fact-sheet 

Acetaldehyde's Effects: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK219914/

Surgeon General's Alcohol Advisory: https://www.hhs.gov/surgeongeneral/reports-and-publications/alcohol-cancer/index.html

3080 Ogden Ave, Ste 204 Lisle, IL 60532

(630) 734-0580

Copyright © Cornerstone Family Health 2025 - All Rights Reserved.


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