Weekend bingeing may be worse than regular drinking: Gurugram doctor warns against alcohol binge

Gurugram: Expressing concern over the trend of binge drinking during weekends, a doctor at a private hospital has warned against weekend alcohol binge because it can have more life-threatening negative effects on the body than regular drinking.

Alcohol misuse is the fifth-leading risk factor for premature death and disability worldwide. Historically it has been believed that consuming on average more than two standard drinks a day is what can cause many long-term health problems and other harms. Nowadays, current research states that any level of alcohol consumption can pose an increased risk of chronic disease development.

Generally, binge drinking means drinking heavily over a short period with the intention and result of getting immediately and severely intoxicated (drunk). 

Also read- Alcohol Consumption Tied To Increased Risks Of Multiple Diseases

In the short term, binge drinking may result in a hangover, alcohol poisoning, or any of the other short-term effects of alcohol consumption, such as accidents and violence. In the long term, binge drinking may result in any of the long-term effects of alcohol consumption, such as heart disease, cancer, liver cirrhosis and diabetes.

Sharing a shocking case on Twitter of binge drinking that lead to irreversible damage, Dr Arvinder Singh Soin, Chief Hepatobiliary and Liver Transplant Surgeon & Chairman, of the Institute of Liver Transplantation and Regenerative Medicine, Medanta-The Medicity said, "Shocker of a day — admitted 5 patients to liver ICU with alcohol-induced liver failure. Disturbingly, ALL had binged on alcohol in the previous 4 weeks. Sadly, only two of them can be saved by a transplant."

He further went on to say that the habit is worse than occasional drinking. "Weekend bingeing may be worse than regular drinking. Serious risks are sudden liver failure, seizures, partner harm, criminal behaviour, homicide, suicide," he added. 

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