Why a glass of wine in the evening can be dangerous: doctors have an answer

Even one glass of wine in the evening can have serious consequences. Experts have warned that those who like to drink wine regularly can fall victim to poor sleep, premature aging, and cancer.

According to Eat This, Not That!, many people believe that one glass of alcohol can relieve tension after a day's work and relax muscles and mind. However, experts interviewed by the publication noted that this is a big misconception.

For example, Dr. Heather Hanks, a nutritionist at Instapot Life, said that a study published in January 2021 in the European Heart Journal showed that even one alcoholic drink a day can increase the risk of atrial fibrillation by 16%.

"This contradicts the familiar myth that a glass of red wine every day is good for heart health. Because atrial fibrillation can increase the risk of more serious complications, such as stroke," Hanks emphasized.

Physician Carrie Lam said that those who drink one glass at night regularly are at risk of being diagnosed with breast cancer. Women whose relatives have already faced this disease are especially at risk. Lem said that even one or two alcoholic drinks a day can increase the risk of developing breast cancer by 30-50 percent.

"Tongue and esophageal cancer is directly related to wine consumption," added Dr. Bracha Banayan. According to her, a 2017 study published in the journal PLoS One showed that just one alcoholic drink a day can increase the risk of developing esophageal cancer.

And somnologist Stephen Light urged not to be fooled by the drowsiness that occurs after drinking a glass of wine. He emphasized that even a small dose of alcohol shifts sleep phases and negatively affects its quality. As a result, a person who has had a drink the night before will feel broken and emotionally devastated in the morning even if they sleep for a long time.

There are also consequences for the skin. Dermatologist Anna Chacon explained that wine lovers have an increased number of capillaries on their cheeks, a red vascular pattern on the face that looks unattractive, to say the least.

According to Dr. Ilene Ruhoy, some women believe that wine can alleviate the symptoms of premenstrual syndrome (PMS). However, Ruhoy said that this opinion is a myth as alcohol can provoke inflammation in the abdominal cavity, increase metabolism and, as a result, increase pain and discomfort in the pelvic area.