Medical image. Calcified facial haematoma.
Doctors have been promoting alcohol as a health tonic for a very long time. The last 30 years has seen the accumulation of a considerable medical literature investigating the potential role of alcohol use as a protection against coronary heart disease. When viewed through the lens of two major early reviews in the mid-1980s, Sir Richard Doll's contributions of the mid-1990s, two large meta-analyses of 10 years ago and two most recent overviews, the health-giving properties of alcohol use become increasingly debatable. The influence of the alcohol industry is raised as a factor in the exaggeration of alcohol use as a health intervention, in similar fashion to activities of pharmaceutical companies. The status of alcohol as a potentially dangerous recreational drug is emphasised as a warning against talking up alcohol as a cardio-protection manoeuvre by anyone.
John Hunter Hospital, Lookout Road, New Lambton, Newcastle, NSW 2305, Australia. drpmehanna@hotmail.com
Patrick
P
Mehanna
Anthony
A
Bertram
Ian
I
Wilson
D002114:Calcinosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology; D005151:Facial Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006406:Hematoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D015601:Injury Severity Score; D008297:Male; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010146:Pain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D018570:Risk Assessment; D017695:Soft Tissue Injuries / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014313:Trismus / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology