Alcohol’s effects on the body depend on how much you drink, how often you drink, and your age, health, and family history. Drinking too much over time can damage your brain, heart, liver, pancreas, and stomach. It can also weaken your immune system, making it harder for your body to fight off infections.
If you’re a woman, drinking alcohol can cause problems with your menstrual cycle and increase your risk of breast cancer. If you’re pregnant, drinking alcohol can harm your baby.
Most people can drink safely in moderation, but if you have any chronic health conditions, talk to your doctor about whether it’s safe for you to drink at all.
Here’s a look at how alcohol affects different parts of your body:
Brain: Alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways, and can affect how the brain looks and works. These disruptions can change mood and behavior, and make it hard to think clearly and move with coordination.
Heart: Drinking too much alcohol can lead to high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and an increased risk of heart disease, stroke, and heart failure.
Liver: Alcohol is processed in the liver, where it can damage liver cells and lead to an inflammation of the liver (alcoholic hepatitis). Heavy drinking over time can lead to scarring of the liver (cirrhosis), which can be fatal.
Pancreas: Alcohol can cause inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis), which can be very painful and lead to serious health problems.
Stomach: Alcohol can cause inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis ), leading to stomach ulcers.
Brain: Drinking too much alcohol can damage the brain, causing problems with memory and learning, and increasing the risk of dementia.
Other Serious Consequences:
Cancer: Drinking alcohol increases the risk of developing cancer of the mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and breast.
Immune system: Drinking too much alcohol can weaken the immune system and make it harder for the body to fight off infections.
Mental health: Drinking too much alcohol can lead to depression, anxiety, and other mental health problems.
Pregnancy: Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can cause congenital disabilities and other problems for the developing baby.
Injury: Drinking too much alcohol increases the risk of injuries, including car accidents, falls, and drowning.
Alcoholism: Drinking too much alcohol can lead to alcoholism, a chronic and potentially fatal disease.
What are the Symptoms of Alcohol Poisoning?
The symptoms of alcohol poisoning include:
- Vomiting
- Seizures
- Slow breathing
- Irregular heartbeat
- Clammy skin
- Pale skin
- Low body temperature
- Passing out and not being able to be awakened
If you or someone you know has these symptoms, it is important to get medical help right away.
How Much Alcohol is Too Much?
The amount of alcohol that is considered safe to drink depends on a number of factors, including your age, weight, and health.
For healthy adults, the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) recommends that men drink no more than 4 drinks on any day and no more than 14 drinks per week. For women, the NIAAA recommends no more than 3 drinks on any day and no more than 7 drinks per week.
For people over the age of 65, the NIAAA recommends that men drink no more than 3 drinks on any day and no more than 7 drinks per week. For women, the NIAAA recommends no more than 2 drinks on any day and no more than 5 drinks per week.
If you are taking medication, have a medical condition, or are pregnant, you should speak with your doctor about how much alcohol is safe for you to consume.
Conclusion
It is important to be aware of the different ways that alcohol can affect the body. While moderate alcohol consumption may have some benefits, excessive drinking can lead to several health problems. These problems can range from mild to severe, and can even be life-threatening.
If you drink alcohol, it is important to do so in moderation. If you are concerned about your drinking habits, or if you think you may have a problem with alcohol, it is important to seek help. There are a number of resources available to help you make healthy choices about drinking.
Lumin Wellness is a community-based, drug abuse rehab center. We provide substance abuse therapy, counseling and support services, and medication-assisted treatment. We utilize a combination of counseling and behavioral interventions to provide a patient-focused approach to substance use disorders. If you are interested in joining Lumin Wellness, Click Here to Schedule a Meeting with one of our team members.