There’s definitely something to like about that buzz you get from having a glass of wine with dinner, or a round of cocktails at a meet up with friends after work. However, it’s definitely a very bad habit to end up at the bar or joint everyday because the collective effect of drinking alcohol, be it wine, beer, or spirits frequently can take a significant toll on all the different systems and organs of the body.
Digestive and Endocrine Glands
Drinking large amounts of alcohol can cause an abnormal activation of digestive enzymes, which are produced by the pancreas. High levels of these enzymes can lead to inflammation known as pancreatitis, which can cause serious complications.
Inflammatory Damage
The liver is the main organ in charge of breaking down and clearing harmful substances from the body, including alcohol. Long-term alcohol use can interfere with this process and also increase the risk for chronic liver inflammation and liver disease. Scarring caused by the inflammation is known as cirrhosis, which ultimately destroys the liver and this affects its ability to function properly in detoxifying the body.
This could in turn lead to liver disease, which is life-threatening and leads to build up of toxin and waste in the body. Women are more likely to develop alcoholic liver disease compared to men due to women’s bodies absorbing more alcohol and taking longer to process it. Thus, women are prone to developing liver damage more quickly than men.
Sugar Level
Sugar levels are also affected by alcohol consumption, as the pancreas is an important organ which helps regulate the body’s insulin use and response to glucose. When the pancreas and liver don’t function properly, you become at risk of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia). A damaged pancreas can also prevent the body from producing sufficient insulin, which can, in turn, lead to high blood sugar (hyperglycemia) and when the body can no longer manage and balance blood sugar levels, there is a higher chance that you may experience greater complications and diabetes-related side effects.
Central Nervous System
Alcohol can severely impact communication between the brain and the body, which can make coordination very difficult. If you’ve experienced a night out with a little too much to drink, then you might recall your speech starting to slur as the alcohol starts to kick in and possibly having a hard time balancing, or even falling.
Excessive alcohol consumption can have long term effects on the central nervous system, which include numbness and tingling sensations in the feet or hands.
Drinking also makes it more difficult for the brain to retain long-term memories and reduces ability to think rationally. With time, parts of the brain can also suffer damage, which impacts the brain’s emotional control, short-term memory, and judgment. Ultimately, chronic and severe alcohol abuse can lead to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, a brain disorder that severely affects memory.
Digestive System
Alcohol can damage the tissues in the digestive tract, prevent the digestion of food, and absorb nutrients and vitamins.
Heavy drinking can also lead to gassiness, bloating, diarrhea, painful stools, and a feeling of fullness in the abdomen.
Alcohol drinkers can also experience ulcers or hemorrhoids due to dehydration and constipation, which can result in internal bleeding if the ulcers aren’t diagnosed or treated in time.
There is also an increased risk of cancer which can develop in the throat, mouth, esophagus, colon, or liver. This risk is higher for people who smoke cigarettes and drink alcohol.
Sexual and Reproductive Health
Men who drink excessively are likely to experience erectile dysfunction, and it can also prevent sex hormone production, resulting in low libido. In women, alcoholism can affect the menstrual cycle and this may affect fertility. Women who drink often during pregnancy have a greater risk of premature delivery, miscarriages, or stillbirth. Drinking is actually a No-No for pregnant women.
Fetal alcohol syndrome disorder is a serious concern for unborn children whose mothers drink alcohol. Other complications include learning difficulties, long-term health issues, increased emotional problems, and physical development abnormalities.
Circulatory System
Alcohol can also affect the heart and lungs. People who habitually drink alcohol have a higher risk of heart-related complications than those who don’t. Women who drink frequently are more likely to develop heart disease than men. Circulatory complications include high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, stroke, heart attack, heart disease, and heart failure.
So now that you know exactly how badly alcohol can affect you, you can make better choices when it comes to alcohol consumption.
