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A study has found that some people's beloved stress reliever is actually just as bad, if not worse than smoking 10 cigarettes, especially if you're chugging down a bottle a week.
I know right? Just reading that makes one want to reach for a glass of chardonnay or pinotage.
The study, which was done by researchers from The University Hospital South Hampton NHS trust foundation found that drinking one bottle of wine per week has has the same potential to increase the risk of cancer as smoking ten cigarettes would.
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During the study it was found that if 1 000 non-smoking women drank a bottle of wine every week for a life time, around 14 women would develop cancer as a result.
The study also cites that the stakes are not exactly even for men and women, with men at less risk than women, meaning that if 1 000 non-smoking men drank a bottle of wine about ten men would develop cancer.
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The reason for this significant difference in potential risk, according to the study, is due to the different body parts that can be affected by cancer. Because women have higher rates of breast cancer their risk is a lot higher.
According to The Telegraph, the study was conducted to raise awareness about the relationship between cancer and alcohol, and to offer more clarity by making comparisons that people can easier understand.
They are also hoping that highlighting this issue will encourage people to make "informed lifestyle decisions".
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However, before you go pouring that bottle of dry red down the sink, it's important to remember that the risk of getting cancer in your lifetime will increase by around 1 percent for men and sadly, 1.4 percent for women. It's also important to note that smoking is still worse than drinking when it comes to higher risks of getting cancer.
READ MORE: Do you see yourself as sober curious, a mindful drinker or want to quit booze entirely?
"This work confirms that, for most smokers, their smoking carries much greater risks for cancer than does alcohol for most drinkers." said one of the professors, Jane Green when asked for comment on the study.
When it's put like that, it doesn't sound that bad, but it is definitely worth knowing, especially for those of us who might go through a lot more than one bottle of wine per week.
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