Effects of Alcohol on the Body

Choosing to overcome alcoholism is a huge decision in a person’s life. When you quit drinking, it’s important to do so safely under the care of professionals. Whether you or a loved one is experiencing the short- or long-term effects of alcohol abuse, there is help available. While some people may experience multiple side effects, others may face fewer complications.

Getting extra folate may cancel out this alcohol-related increase. [18] An earlier study suggested that getting 600 micrograms a day of folate could counteract the effect of moderate alcohol consumption on breast cancer risk. [17] There was no association with folate and increased breast cancer risk among women who drank low or no alcohol daily. Over time, excessive drinking can lead to mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety. Alcohol abuse can increase your risk for some cancers as well as severe, and potentially permanent, brain damage.

Liver Damage

For example, some studies suggest that moderate alcohol drinking can affect fertility for some women. Research also shows that heavy drinking by men may lower testosterone levels and affect the making of sperm. The World Health Organization (WHO) report states that alcohol is responsible for more than 200 diseases and injuries. Some of the long-term ill effects of alcohol are diabetes, blood pressure, liver disease, cardiovascular disease, oral cancer, breast cancer, risk to unborn babies, and obesity. Alcohol also affects the communication between the brain and the eyes. As a result, this can cause double vision, a condition where the brain slows down the rate at which its visual system synchronizes information from the two eyes.

• Alcohol abuse can quickly derail someone’s goals and dreams for the future.
• Whether for a general exam or a specific health problem, there is often so much information to process that we don’t think to ask questions during our visit or simply feel embarrassed to ask.
• However, if you find yourself binge drinking, or if alcohol is causing issues at home or at work, consider cutting back or avoiding it all together.
• If enough erosion occurs, this can result in a condition called gastritis.
• Alcohol withdrawal can be difficult and, in some cases, life threatening.

Some of these effects, like a relaxed mood or lowered inhibitions, might show up quickly after just one drink. Others, like loss of consciousness or slurred speech, may develop after a few drinks. For more information about alcohol’s effects on the body, please visit the Interactive Body feature on NIAAA’s College Drinking Prevention website. For more information about alcohol and cancer, please visit the National Cancer Institute’s webpage “Alcohol and Cancer Risk” (last accessed October 21, 2021). Many people will take a drink to stop the discomfort of withdrawal. This is because alcohol is toxic to the body, and the body is still working to get rid of the toxin.

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Research shows that women who drink more alcohol than is recommended on a regular basis tend to develop liver disease, cardiomyopathy and nerve damage after fewer years than men who do the same. Research shows that different people can have variations of the gene that produces these enzymes. The differences in these enzymes mean that some people metabolize alcohol differently from others. The NIAAA says that genetic differences in these enzymes may help to explain why some ethnic groups have higher or lower rates of alcohol-related problems.

Sometimes the harmful effects aren’t discovered until much later in life, making it difficult to reverse many health complications. Tolerance and dependence can both happen as symptoms of alcohol use disorder, a mental health condition previously referred to as alcoholism, that happens when your body becomes dependent on alcohol. This condition can be mild, moderate, or severe, depending on the number of symptoms you have. For example, even light drinkers (those who have no more than one drink a day) have a tiny, but real, increased risk of some cancers, such as esophageal cancer. In addition, many older people take prescribed and over-the-counter (OTC) medications that may interact with alcohol. The slower reaction times and problems with seeing and hearing put older people who are intoxicated at higher risk for falls and traffic accidents.

Timestamps

Alcohol circulates in the body through the bloodstream; starting from the mouth, it travels to the liver, then to the circulatory system, kidney, pancreas, lungs, stomach, and the brain. Approximately 33% of the alcohol consumed long term effects of alcohol on the body is absorbed into blood through the stomach lining, immediately after consumption. The remaining alcohol diffuses slowly in the blood via small intestine. Alcohol is the leading factor for over 200 diseases and injuries.

Your central nervous system consists of the brain, spinal cord, and neurons that communicate messages throughout your body. It powers key functions and processes like movement, memory, speech, thought processes, and more. A comprehensive 2015 review found that alcohol use is one of the leading contributors https://ecosoberhouse.com/ to pancreatitis because it causes the pancreas to produce toxic substances. Reach out to a treatment provider for free today for immediate assistance. Drinking alcohol on a regular basis can also lead to dependence, which means your body and brain have grown used to alcohol’s effects.

It’s time to put an end to alcohol abuse, and live a strong and healthy life. Contact a treatment provider to help you find alcohol treatment programs. If you or a loved one is experiencing the effects of alcohol, it’s time to get help. Contact a treatment provider to discuss available alcohol rehab facilities. Alcohol makes you dehydrated and makes blood vessels in your body and brain expand.