alcoholism cause effect essay

Alcoholism: Causes, Risk Factors, and Symptoms

Introduction, causes of alcoholism, effects of alcoholism, works cited.

The term alcoholism may be used to refer to a wide range of issues associated with alcohol. Simply put, it is a situation whereby an individual cannot stay without alcohol. An alcoholic usually drinks alcohol uncontrollably and persistently.

Alcoholism usually leads to ill health, and it affects relationships between the individual and the people around him. It may also be considered as a disease and may be referred to as an alcohol use disorder. Alcohol abuse may also cause damage to vital organs in the human body, including the brain and heart (Mukamal et al. 1965). Therefore, it may lead to psychiatric and medical issues. Psychiatric disorders, such as depression and schizophrenia, may occur.

Others include phobias, dysthymia, mania, and depression. Alcoholism may also cause neurologic deficits. These deficits may be manifested through certain impairments such as brain damage and memory loss. Such individuals also have difficulty executing certain functions and may experience issues with body balance and gait.

The brain might be affected as certain changes occur in its structure and chemistry. With time, a person develops physical dependence and tolerance. This causes the inability to stop drinking and causes complications as one tries to stop the habit.

This is particularly referred to as alcohol withdrawal syndrome. Identifying alcoholics for the purpose of treatment may be difficult since such individuals may avoid seeking help due to stigmatization. However, certain factors influence the risk for the condition.

These factors include mental health, depression, age, gender, ethnicity, and family history (Mukamal et al. 1965). This paper will discuss the genetic and environmental factors that cause alcoholism and highlight the complications, conditions, and diseases associated with the disorder.

The main causes of this disorder may be categorized into two. These include genetic and environmental factors. The genetic material that determines the metabolism of the drink also influences the risk of the disorder. Persons with a family history of the disorder may also develop it.

A particular study argued that the expression of genes was influenced if an individual started using alcoholic beverages at an early stage in life (Agrawal et al. 69). This increased the risk of alcohol dependence among such individuals.

Persons with a genetic disposition to the disorder would most probably start drinking at an early stage. Individuals who start drinking at an early stage are also more likely to develop alcoholism. It is also argued that 40% of alcoholics misuse alcohol by the time they are in their late adolescent stage. However, certain researchers disagree with this idea (Schwandt et al., 74).

Individuals who do not receive support from family and friends are highly likely to develop alcoholism. Therefore, some social and emotional factors may cause an ex-drinker to start drinking again. For example, mental and emotional stress can contribute to alcoholism.

An individual under the influence of alcohol may not be able to feel the pain associated with stress. With the normal alcohol intake, an individual’s brain might be at some equilibrium. When the individual tries to quit, the brain responds. This response may come in terms of stress, anxiety, and depression.

These feelings cause chemical imbalances that force an alcoholic to go back to drinking in order to feel better. Social and cultural pressures from media and other sources may also affect the drinking habits of an individual. The media’s portrayal of alcohol as a pleasurable and beneficial drink may encourage individuals to start drinking or cause ex-drinkers to return to their old habits (Bierut et al. 237).

The damaging effect of alcohol on the nervous system is more profound among adolescents and those with a genetic disposition to the disorder. These effects may cause the degeneration of the cerebral cortex. Consequently, this increases impulse behavior that may lead to alcoholism.

Despite the severe damages to the central nervous system due to alcoholism, it is possible to reverse some of the damages through withdrawal from the drug. Another risk factor is the availability of alcohol. This drug is most commonly abused. In terms of popularity, beer may come next after water and tea.

The difference in genetic characteristics also determines the risk of developing the disorder. This is mainly because different races have certain different genetic characteristics.

Therefore, they differ in terms of alcohol metabolism. The difference in genetic makeup may explain the difference in the rate of alcohol dependence among the different races.

The genetic component that determines the rate at which alcohol metabolizes is referred to as the alcohol dehydrogenase allele. The Native Americans and African Americans are said to have an allele that is not highly associated with alcohol dependence. The Native Americans, on the other hand, are more likely to develop alcohol dependence.

The effects of alcohol abuse are diverse. Consumption of excess alcohol may lead to several diseases and complications. For example, it may lead to the inflammation of the pancreas, liver disease, and cancers. Alcohol-related cancers are believed to form as the elements in the alcoholic drink are converted into acetaldehyde. This is a potent carcinogen.

Different parts of the body may host the cancerous cells. These areas include the liver, breast, and mouth. The larynx and the throat are also likely to be affected. Alcoholics who take tobacco have an increased risk of cancers (Bierut et al. 237).

Liver cirrhosis is another condition that may occur as a result of excessive drinking of alcohol. This is manifested through the scarring of the organ to such an extent that it cannot perform its functions. However, some individuals who drink moderately have also been shown to suffer from the disease (Mukamal et al. 1965).

Pregnant alcoholic mothers may also cause problems for the unborn. Fetal alcohol syndrome may result from such habits. Excessive use of alcohol may cause impaired brain development and brain shrinkage. Although the brain normally shrinks in old age, excessive use of alcohol increases this rate. With the increased rate, such individuals are likely to develop dementia and have memory issues.

Alcoholism also increases the risk of cognitive and neuropsychiatric disorders. Excessive use of the beverage may cause an increase in the level of toxic amino acid in the plasma. This may be the reason why some individuals suffer from withdrawal seizures.

Alcohol abuse may also cause issues with memory and may impair learning. Alcoholism may also greatly affect the brain. For example, brain lesions are likely to occur. Alcohol-related brain damage comes about due to a combination of several factors.

Alcoholism may also cause heart attacks and strokes. Abuse of alcohol increases the risks of a heart attack. Some studies have shown that drinking alcohol in moderation may offer some level of protection to individuals against heart attack (Mukamal et al. 1965).

This applies specifically to individuals who had suffered a heart attack before. Prolonged use of alcohol in large quantities also causes alcohol cardiomyopathy. This disease affects the muscles of the heart. As the heart muscles fail, this may lead to heart failure.

Alcoholism is also associated with alcohol-related death. Many deaths worldwide have been attributed to the excessive use of alcohol (Doll et al. 199). Individuals who use alcohol excessively are at a higher risk of death than those who take alcohol moderately. Individuals with diseases that may be augmented by the excessive use of alcohol are also at great risk of alcohol-related death. Such diseases include oral cancers and liver disease.

Another effect of alcoholism is anemia. Excessive use of alcoholic beverages causes a reduction in the number of erythrocytes. This condition is referred to as anemia. Since red blood cells are used to transport oxygen around the body, the low level of oxygen due to low numbers of the cells leads to fatigue, shortness of breath, and dizziness.

Alcoholism may either be caused by genetic or environmental factors. Persons with a genetic disposition to the disorder are likely to start drinking and become alcoholics. Genetic variations may determine the difference in alcohol metabolism.

The environmental factors that may cause alcoholism include the availability of alcohol and sociocultural pressures. Certain environmental factors lead to depression that may encourage alcoholism. The effects of alcoholism are diverse. Alcoholism may lead to diseases such as liver disease, heart disease, and cancers. Excessive use of alcohol may affect almost all vital organs of the body and may eventually lead to death.

Agrawal, Arpana, et al. “Evidence for an interaction between age at 1 st drink and genetic influences on DSM-IV alcohol dependence symptoms.” Alcoholism Clinical & Experimental Research 33.12 (2010): 67-80. Print.

Bierut, Laura, et al. “Co-occurring risk factors for alcohol dependence and habitual smoking.” Alcohol Research & Health 24.4 (2000): 233-241. Print.

Doll, Richard, et al . “Mortality in relation to alcohol consumption: A prospective study among male British doctors.” International Journal of Epidemiology 34.1 (2005): 199-204. Print.

Mukamal, Kenneth, et al. “Prior alcohol consumption and mortality following acute myocardial infarction.” JAMA 285.15 (2001): 1965-1970. Print.

Schwandt, Melanie, et al. “Alcohol response and consumption in adolescent rhesus macaques: Life history and genetic influences.” International Biomedical Journal 44.1 (2010): 67-80. Print.

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StudyCorgi. (2020, January 12). Alcoholism: Causes, Risk Factors, and Symptoms. https://studycorgi.com/alcoholism-causes-and-effects/

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The Cause and Effects of Drinking Alcohol, Essay Example

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Alcohol is widely abused across the world and the effects of excessive alcohol intake can be devastating. When not taken in moderation, alcohol can be harmful to the health and social life of the individual, as well as harmful to the individual’s family. These devastating effects can result in alcohol related disease, outcast from social circles and loss of friends and a breakdown in the family.

Excessive alcohol consumption is extremely harmful to the health of a person. Alcohol abuse can lead to heart disease, liver failure and rapid aging. Many deaths are caused by alcoholism. Excessive drinking also increases the decision to take risky actions, including drinking and driving. Drinking and driving causes many deaths every year and is a major problem among those of all ages. Excessive alcohol consumption can also cause memory loss and other psychological issues.

Consuming alcohol at a high rate can also cause social problems. This can include loss of friends and being outcast from your community. This happens because of the bad choices that come with alcoholism and most people do not want to associate with those who drink excessively. It is not just harmful to the drinker, but harmful to their friends and family.

In relation to loss of friends, it is likely that excessive drinking can cause a breakdown in family. Alcoholism is devastating for families. Many times an excessive drinker will not keep up with their responsibilities within the family. This means that they are likely to not finish school or college, lose their jobs and not participate in taking care of their children. This can lead to financial problems and the inability to take care of the themselves of the family.

There are many reasons why excessively consuming alcohol is dangerous and harmful. Drinking in moderation or abstaining from alcohol altogether is important to live a happy and healthy life. Among the effects of drinking alcohol, the most obvious are major health problems, loss of friends and social status and a breakdown in the family unit.

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Essay on Alcoholism | Meaning | Causes & Effects

December 16, 2017 by Study Mentor Leave a Comment

Overuse or too much of anything is not good. Addiction towards any single things will put us into trouble. We might have to face a lot of problems. It will not be easy to come out of such a situation. One has to give their full spirit in order to be free from those problems.

This overuse and addiction can be with drugs, alcohol, video games, food and many other things. We have seen that when people overuse any form of drugs, it harms them. The same thing happens with alcohol as well. In the starting people might not realize what will excessive consumption of alcohol would do them.

Sometimes no matter how much the alcohol is destroying them in different ways, people do not stop drinking it. When they over use it or rather it can be called alcohol abuse, it is known as alcoholism.  

Table of Contents

What is alcoholism ?  

When there is overuse of alcohol that state is known as alcoholism. This happens when the limit is crossed. In this state people are not able to control their drinking.

Sometimes it becomes a sort of disorder. People should learn to take alcohol in limit. Otherwise there can be many health problems due to alcohol abuse.    

Why do people drink alcohol?

At that point of time they are not bothered by any of the problems they are facing. Drinking alcohol is like a break for them from these problems. Sometimes people are very depressed or they are facing a lot of emotional problems. At such times they drink alcohol so that they are able to forget all the depressive things and be free from all sorts of emotional problems.

Alcohol has also become a part of any type of celebrations among the adults. In some of the societies, people drink alcohol so that they are able to gel with others and become popular among them.  

In India different states have different legal age for drinking. Some have 18 while some have 21. But still the underage youth go to various places and drink alcohol even though it is illegal for them. In Karnataka, some bars and restaurants have legal age as 18 while some have 21.

These ones strictly ask the customers for identity proof. But some of the places allow everyone and they do not check any identity proofs.

There have been times when some of the friends in a group would be underage. During such situations they would quietly drink from the friends who were legal to drink alcohol.  

Symptoms and signs of alcoholism 

One should know to control on their drinking habits. If a person drinks more than the limit, one can face alcoholism. There are many signs and symptoms by which people can know that they are facing alcoholism. Even if one is trying to drink less, they are failing to do that.

They are unable to control from drinking. They start to give more importance to alcohol and ignoring other work and responsibilities. One does not have focus on anything else.

They do not feel like doing any other work.  They will always feel like drinking. When they are not drinking, they carve to drink alcohol. Major expenditure is done to buy alcohol. People are not able to control their behaviour during this state.   

What can alcohol do to our body? 

All of us know that consumption of alcohol can harm our body. But there are many who do not know about it and they consume alcohol excessively. We have to face a lot of health problems when we drink a lot. There can be problems in the digestive system which will lead to complications during the later stage. Our stools will not be proper. We may vomit a lot at this time.

We can have high blood pressure, too much sweating. Our liver can get destroyed due to excessive consumption of alcohol. Liver helps to remove the harmful things from the body. When there is large content of alcohol in our body, the liver will not be able to do its function anymore.

Further, there will be many diseases of liver which is very dangerous. As the liver will not be functioning properly, the sugar level in our body will reduce. The reduction of sugar level in the body will further result in more complications. It is not only liver which will not be able to function properly but even the lungs and heart will have problems in their proper functioning.

There may be many heart problems. One has chances of getting cancer too. Alcohol affects our brain largely. This is the reason when a person is intoxicated from alcohol they are unable to speak properly. This is because the brain is not able to connect with the other parts of body.

At such times we do not think properly and take decisions which we would not take when we are in full senses. There are also chances that this can also lead to damage of the brain.

It is not safe for pregnant women to drink alcohol because it will be harmful for the baby. There will be problems with the pregnancy due to consumption of alcohol. Too much drinking can make our immune system weak. We will not be able to fight against any sort of sickness.   

Treatment of alcoholism  

This will make them lose their confidence and may also become weak. We should never be afraid from any person who is suffering alcoholism. We should always try to help them.

There are treatments which can help people to go away from alcohol. After this treatment people will learn to say no to alcohol. If any of the treatment does not work then one can go for counseling.

Alcoholism in the first stage will not be so difficult. But a person who has gone to the extremes and has almost destroyed his life. It will be extremely difficult to bring them back to normal.   

Self-written story on alcohol 

Once there was an old man in a village. He had five children. Out these five, four of them were boys and one girl. The old man lost his life after the birth of the fourth and fifth child who were twins. From then he had to take care of them. They belonged to a very poor family.

There were two eldest sons, then the daughter and after that the two twins. The youngest ones were very small. Despite of their poor economic condition, they would manage to survive by working and taking loan from other villagers. But the old man was always spending the money in drinking.

He used to drink so much that he had become too weak to work. Whatever money he would get from work he spent all of them in drinking. He never contributed in the family earnings. He could not stay without drinking. It was like drinking was more important to him than eating food.

He would often drink and play his drums.  Sometimes he would drink so much remembering his wife that he drank till he fell asleep. Due to this behaviour of the father, the daughter and the two eldest sons had to work very hard. They failed to stop their father from drinking.

The condition became worse when slowly their family started drifting apart. The daughter and two eldest sons started to be involved in wrong doings. This made the old man very upset. He did not expect this from their children. The sons never came back. But the daughter came back to the old man.

He was not ready to accept and forgive her for wrong doings. But as he had no one as his support he had to forgive her. One day the two twins were playing near the river. All of a sudden one of the twins drowned in the river. By the time people came to save him, he died.

This made the old man weaker. He felt he had lost his life. He looked as if he had no life left in himself. The old man had not come out of the loss that his daughter was again involved in wrong things. This time he was more heart-broken than before. He had only one child left with him.

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Problem of Excess Alcohol Drinking in Society Essay

Introduction, causes of alcohol consumption, consequences, works cited.

For generations, alcohol has held an important place in the spiritual, emotional and social experience of people. For this reason, people drink as a form of relaxation, to mark important cultural events, and as a way of celebrating with friends (Heron 7). Taken in moderation, alcohol does not have any drastic effects on the drinker.

Problems only arise when alcohol is consumed in excess. Each year, nearly 80,000 lives are lost in the United States due to excessive use of alcohol (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention n.p.). It is estimated that in 2006, some $ 223.5 billion was lost due to excessive consumption of alcohol.

There are a number of reasons why people consume alcohol. People drink alcohol as a way of reducing associations in their minds. Alcohol weakens molecules separating neurons in the brains, thereby impairing communication. Consequently, an individual finds it hard to associate ideas. Psychologists also say that we drink as a way of escaping the self. Most people say that they drink alcohol in order to drown their sorrows. Since alcohol impairs communication, people momentarily forget their troubles.

Like other things in life, there are other underlying reasons that shape our drinking habits. For example, some people drink because they feel sad, angry, or lonely.

Others drink as a way of bonding with their friends and loved ones (Heron 8). Therefore, our drinking habits, whether in excess or in moderation, are shaped by hidden motivations. In the case of heavy drinkers, this behavior could be due to the need to address underlying problems, such as difficulty in dealing with low self-esteem, inability to handle strong emotions, and problems with relationships.

Peer pressure is yet another reason why people may start drinking alcohol (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention n.p.). For example, a teenager may start experimenting with alcohol while in college because his friends are also doing it. In this case, he feels compelled to experiment with alcohol so that he can belong with his peers. We also drink since alcohol has become culturally normalized.

The media aggressively promote alcohol consumption to an extent that it has now become culturally normalized. Alcohol is also readily available in supermarkets, bars, and discount stores. In fact, children under the age of 18 years can buy alcohol without some seller requesting to see their IDs first. For these reasons, consumption of alcohol has become normal and socially acceptable.

Effects of alcohol use

The effects of alcohol on the drinker are dependent on a number of factors. First, it depends on the body chemistry. This means that some people can get tipsy quite easily while others need larger quantities of alcohol to get drunk.

The effects of alcohol are also dependent on one’s weight, gender, and age (Masters 21). For example, women tend to get drunk by smaller quantities of alcohol compared with men. Effects of alcohol also depend on one’s weight. Blood alcohol concentration (BAC) is the level of alcohol in the blood that causes one to get intoxicated, and is weight-dependent.

Thus, a man who weighs say, 200 pounds, may be less intoxicated than one who weighs 150 pounds even after both men have consumed the same quantity of alcohol. Among the elderly, the rate at which the liver metabolizes alcohol is slower in comparison with younger people. Other important factors to consider include quantity and type of alcohol consumed, drinking experience, and whether one had eaten or not, before taking alcohol.

The effects of alcohol use on one’s behavior also vary, depending on the amount of alcohol consumed. As one gets drunk, they are talkative, and more confident. As they become more intoxicated with alcohol, their speech is slurred, while their balance and coordination gets impaired. Their reflexes also slows down, and their exhibit unstable emotions.

Excessive consumption of alcohol is associated with immediate health risk that if not addressed, can lead to long-term health risks.

Immediate health risks

Excessive consumption of alcohol is linked violent behavior. Masters (23) reports that nearly 35% of the violent crimes are caused by individuals under the influence of alcohol. Moreover, excessive alcohol use also leads to cases of child neglect and maltreatment (The National Center on Addition and Substance Abuse 4).

Excessive use of alcohol also causes unintentional injuries such as falls, burns, traffic injuries, and drawings (Rehm et al. 41). Risky sexual behaviors such as sexual assault and engaging in unprotected sex are also some of the other immediate health risks of excessive alcohol use (Naimi et al. 1139).

Long-term health risks

If the immediate health risks of excessive alcohol use are not addressed, the victim could suffer neurological impairments, in addition to suffering from various social problems. They are also likely to develop chronic illnesses. Some of the neurological problems attributed to long-term excessive alcohol use include stroke, dementia, and neuropathy (Corrao et al. 615).

Over time, too much of alcohol can also cause psychiatric problems like anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts (Booth and Feng 162). Excessive alcohol use is also linked to liver diseases such as cirrhosis, which is today one of the leading causes of lifestyle-related deaths in the United States (Heron (8).

There are various reasons why people consume alcohol, including peer pressure, to drown sorrows, and to bond with families and friends, among others. Excessive consumption of alcohol causes both immediate and long-term health effects, including violence, involvement in risky sexual behaviors, and neurological and psychiatric problems.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Alcohol-Related Disease Impact (ARDI) , Atlanta, GA: CDC, 2012. Print.

Corrao, Giovanni, Vincenzo, Bagnardi and Antonella, Zambon. “A meta-analysis of alcohol consumption and the risk of 15 diseases.” Prev Med , 38(2004):613-619.

Heron, Melonie. “Deaths: Leading causes for 2004.” National vital statistics reports , 56.5(2007):1-96.

Masters, Ruth. Counseling Criminal Justice Offenders, London: Sage, 2003. Print.

Naimi, Timothy, Leslie Lipscomb, Robert Brewer and Brenda Gilbert. “Binge drinking in

the preconception period and the risk of unintended pregnancy: Implications for women and their children.” Pediatrics , 11.5(2003):1136-1141.

Rehm, Jurgen, Gerhard Gmel, Christopher Sempos and Maurizio Trevisan. Alcohol related morbidity and mortality. Alcohol Research and Health , 27.1(2003):39-51.

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1. IvyPanda . "Problem of Excess Alcohol Drinking in Society." December 24, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/alcohol-drinking/.

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IvyPanda . "Problem of Excess Alcohol Drinking in Society." December 24, 2023. https://ivypanda.com/essays/alcohol-drinking/.

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Common pitfalls underlying cause-and-effect relationships

In the realm of medicine, cause-and-effect relationships are those where a specific cause, such as a disease, condition, or treatment, directly leads to a specific outcome or effect. An example of this is the established fact that smoking causes lung cancer. Similarly, it is well-documented that regular, heavy alcohol consumption directly leads to liver cirrhosis.

On the other hand, phrases like “associated with,” “linked to,” and “tied to” denote a correlation or relationship between two factors but do not definitively establish causality. For instance, a sedentary lifestyle is often associated with heart disease. This means that a higher incidence of heart disease is observed in people who lead a sedentary lifestyle, but it does not necessarily establish that a sedentary lifestyle is the direct cause of heart disease. Other factors may also contribute to the development of this condition.

Similarly, high-stress levels are linked to insomnia. Although people with high-stress levels often suffer from insomnia, it is not definitively proven that stress is the direct cause of insomnia, as other factors could also be involved. We might also say that high sugar consumption is associated with obesity. While there is a correlation between the two, it cannot be definitively said that high sugar consumption is the sole or primary cause of obesity, as there are many other contributing factors, such as physical inactivity, genetics, and other dietary habits.

Therefore, the difference between cause and effect and phrases like “associated with” and “tied to” essentially lies in the strength and certainty of the relationship. Cause and effect indicate a direct and certain relationship, while “associated with” and “linked to” indicate a correlation or consistent relationship but not necessarily a direct causal one.

Historically, there are several notable examples where cause-and-effect relationships in medical science were later proven to be incorrect. One such example is the miasma theory, which proposed that diseases like cholera and the Black Death resulted from “miasma” or bad air. This theory was eventually replaced by the germ theory of disease, which identified specific microorganisms as the true cause of these illnesses.

Another misconception involved stomach ulcers. For a long time, stress and spicy foods were believed to be the primary cause of these ulcers. However, this understanding was revolutionized in the 1980s when two Australian scientists discovered that the bacterium Helicobacter pylori was actually responsible for most stomach ulcers, not stress or diet.

A more recent and well-known example involves the alleged link between the MMR vaccine (measles, mumps, rubella) and autism. In 1998, a study suggested this link, leading to widespread fear and a drop in vaccination rates. However, the study was later retracted due to serious procedural errors, undisclosed financial conflicts of interest, and ethical violations. Numerous subsequent studies have consistently found no connection between the MMR vaccine and autism.

The safety of Gardasil has also come into question. Gardasil is a vaccine, and the only one given to protect against human papillomavirus (HPV) in the U.S. HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection among women and a known cause of genital warts and cancer later in life. The FDA and CDC refute that the vaccine causes cancer, as individuals have claimed in  lawsuits against Gardasil’s manufacturer, and no studies have found any association between the HPV vaccine and autoimmune conditions, as plaintiffs have also alleged. Litigation is ongoing.

There has been continuing debate and research into whether living near cell phone towers or high-voltage power lines can increase the risk of cancer. The concern arises from the fact that both cellphone towers and power lines emit low-level radiofrequency (RF) energy, a type of non-ionizing radiation.

Non-ionizing radiation is generally considered less harmful than ionizing radiation (like X-rays or radon), which has enough energy to damage DNA and potentially lead to cancer. However, the question is whether long-term exposure to low-level non-ionizing radiation can still have harmful effects.

The World Health Organization (WHO), based on the current body of scientific evidence, states that exposure to low-level RF fields, like those emitted by mobile phones and their base stations, is not harmful to human health. Similarly, many studies have found no consistent evidence that living near high-voltage power lines increases the risk of leukemia or other cancers.

However, research in this area is ongoing and evolving. The WHO’s International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified RF fields as “ possibly carcinogenic to humans ” based on limited evidence from human studies and less than sufficient evidence from lab studies.

In conclusion, while the current body of evidence suggests that living near cellphone towers or high-voltage power lines does not increase the risk of cancer, more research is needed to definitively answer this question.

These examples underscore the importance of rigorous scientific research and evidence-based medicine. They remind us that our understanding of medical cause-and-effect relationships can change and evolve based on new evidence and that rigorous study design, peer review, and replication of results are crucial in ensuring reliability and validity in scientific research.

Journalists often rely on the information and language used in scientific research studies, and they commonly use phrases like “associated with” and “linked to” when writing headlines. This can sometimes contribute to misunderstandings about scientific research and the role of causation in the findings.

The Association of Health Care Journalists’ guidance on covering research studies actually aims for wording that suggests a less direct relationship. Creating headlines can be challenging, as journalists need to strike a balance between accurately conveying the nuances of scientific research and making the information accessible and understandable to a broad audience.

The phrase “lies, damned lies, and statistics” is often attributed to Mark Twain, who used it in his autobiography. However, Twain himself credited it to British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, although there’s no record of Disraeli using the phrase.

The phrase suggests that statistics can be manipulated or misrepresented to support any argument, even a false one. It underscores the idea that while statistics can be powerful tools for understanding data and trends, they can also be misused to mislead or confuse individuals and demonstrate causality when none exists. The phrase serves as a cautionary reminder to critically evaluate statistical claims and to consider the source of data and methodology before assuming cause and effect.

Arthur Lazarus  is a former  Doximity Fellow , a member of the editorial board of the American Association for Physician Leadership, and an adjunct professor of psychiatry at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. He is the author of  Every Story Counts: Exploring Contemporary Practice Through Narrative Medicine ,  Medicine on Fire: A Narrative Travelogue , and  Narrative Medicine: The Fifth Vital Sign .

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