Unhealthy Consumption of Alcohol as a Risk Factor for Non-Communicable Diseases

Unhealthy Consumption of Alcohol as a risk factor for Non-Communicable Diseases
and its association on increased risks of injury
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Unhealthy Consumption of Alcohol as a risk factor for Non-Communicable Diseases
and its association on increased risks of injury
Section 1
Noncommunicable diseases account to 41 million deaths per year which is equivalent to 71%
of all deaths globally. Every year an estimate of about 15 million people who die comprise of
ages 30 to 69 with over 85% premature deaths occurring middle and low-income countries.
Cardiovascular disease account for most deaths with around 17.9 million deaths globally,
followed closely by cancer with about 9 million, respiratory disease accounting for 3.9
million and diabetes accounting for 1.6 million. These account for about over 80% of all
premature deaths occurring in NCD. Common negative practices include tobacco use,
physical inactivity, harmful use of alcohol and unhealthy behaviors increases the risks of
dying on NCD (1).
Harmfulness of alcohol leads to detrimental effects on the social and health state of the
drinkers and society at large. Excessive intake of alcohol further is associated with increased
risks of negative health outcomes. The unhealthy usage of alcohol globally is the leading
cause of illness, morbidity, and death. It is the primary cause of nearly more than 200
diseases and injuries across the globe with an estimate of 3.3 million deaths yearly. Further
4.8% of the total global factor of diseases and injury are attributed to alcohol intake. The
global consumption is estimated to account for about more than 10% of the burden of
communicable diseases such as cancers, liver, pancreases, hypertension and hemorrhagic (2).
Further, occurrence of injury leads to increased morbidity and mortality globally, intentional
injuries are more so related traffic has been the highest rated occurrences. Alcohol intake has
been attributed as the key risk factor for development of injuries both for intentional and non
intentional injuries. Studies and assessments undertaken have shown that adjustment for
gender, age, and drinking in logistic regression was established with high alcohol levels being
associated with increased risks to injury (3). The rise in injury related to alcohol is a double
fold, in that reduction of alcohol is geared towards reducing the overall association of none
communicable diseases which eventually reduces the instance of injuries likely to be
observed due to alcohol intake (4).
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According to WHO (5), unhealthy consumption of alcohol tends to cause more disease and
injury. In Australia, harmful intake for alcohol is widespread and entwined with many social
and cultural activities. Harmful consumption is linked to major health issues which are linked
to increased risks of chronic diseases, premature deaths, and related injuries. Majority of
Australians aged 14 years and above consumes alcohol however the proportion of the people
drinking in excess on lifetime risks has been observed to be declining since 2010. On the
capital basis, an estimate of 9.4 liters of alcohol was consumed per persons in the year2016-
2017. Further in 2016, one in every 6 (17.4%) of Australians aged above 14 years and over
were at risks due to consumption of alcohol. The proportion of the indigenous population
with lifetime risks on alcohol consumption decreased in the year 2008 and 2014 – 19%
compared to 15%. Aboriginal and Torres Islanders about 50%, young people (42%) and
people with mental illness accounted for about 18.9% more likely to exceed the lifetime risks
of alcohol-related harm linked to the development of diseases. In the year 2016-2017, alcohol
was attributed to be highly detectable substance across the regions thus signifying high risks
for noncommunicable diseases and the possible association of injuries development (6).
Section 2
Health belief model assessment on alcohol consumption patterns
Health belief model focuses on the attitude and beliefs of individuals in an attempt to initiate
change and predict the health behaviour aspects of both at the individual and population at
larger. According to the model with regard to alcohol intake, an individual can take change if
they feel that avoidance of alcohol will lead to avoidance of negative influence consequence
such as development of non communicable diseases and later on have roll over effect on
injuries, if a person has firm affirmation that avoidance of alcohol is effective in prevention
of NCDs development and if the person is firmly comfortable with living without influence
of alcohol.
The model is composed of four concepts which entail the benefits and threats which are
perceived by the individual during the time of health action recommendation. These concepts
include perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits and barriers. This constructs account for
readiness for initiating action. Cues to action activities in readiness tend to act and initiate
behaviour change, further self efficacy, assess the confidence on ability to perfume action
comfortably.
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Perceived susceptibility
These entails conditions which tend to cause alcohol use such as addition, injury and
development of NCD.
Perceived severity
Entail the perceived seriousness for condition of taking alcohol and the effect of underlying
consequences.
Perceived benefits
Entail the individual benefits of being disease free and less occurrence of alcohol related
NCD and associated injury.
Perceived barriers
These entail individual opinions which prevent the overall population from intake cessation,
thus identification of such barriers and its reduction leads to improved cessation level
Cues to action
As an effect of initiating change, strategies for queiitng alchol is put in place so as to facilitate
quitting stage, this can entail reduction of free and less costly rehabilitation services
Self efficacy
This entails the individual readiness on cessation of alcohol use, through providing enough
information through the applicable strategies and following up for support.
The short term effects of alcohol have been linked to relaxation and reduced inhibitions
which add to the overall appeal for consumption of alcohol. Excess consumption causes
significant effects such as nausea and vomiting. Further, it can cause harmful behaviour
practices. Short term effects of alcohol have been shown to lead to reduced body inhibitions,
relaxation effects, impaired memory, and disturbed sleep pattern, slowed alertness while long
term effects are attributed to cancers of oral, throat and breast. Further, it causes liver
cirrhosis, brain damage, forms of heart disease and stroke (7).
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