Just a drink or two at lunch with friends or business partners couldn’t be harmful, could it? In today’s Sixty Second Housecall, Dr. Ken Davis discusses the dangers of even small amounts of alcohol intake during the day.
Many people see nothing wrong with having one glass of wine at lunch. But new studies show that even a small amount of alcohol can be dangerous. Researchers say that most drivers who have a lunchtime drink may not be aware of the risks. A single drink can significantly affect driving skills even though that amount may still pass the blood alcohol test given by police officers.
The dangers of daytime drinking and driving are even more pronounced in people who did not get a good night’s sleep. Drowsy drivers account for about one in 10 road accidents. Daytime drinking worsens the body’s natural dip in mental alertness that occurs in the afternoon. If drinking is combined with a lack of sleep from the night before, the risk of an accident increases greatly.
Remember, think before taking a drink at lunch. And if you’ve had poor sleep the night before, make sure to say “ice tea for me please.” It just may save your life.
To learn more, log on to wtva.com and click on Sixty Second Housecall. For North Mississippi Medical Center, I’m Dr. Ken Davis.