Drinking alcohol, especially in large quantities and for prolonged periods of time, can have a long list of negative effects on the body and mind.
While we’re all familiar with the immediate ramifications of drinking too much – difficulty walking, speaking and thinking properly as well as nausea, being sick and headaches, there are also many worrying long-term health effects caused by excessive alcohol consumption.
It changes how our brains work
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant which affects all organs of the body, especially the liver and the brain.
Drinking too much for a long period of time can disrupt our neuronal pathways. This negatively affects cognitive functioning, behavior and mood. Neurons in the cortex help with mental functions and consciousness and healthy neuronal activity is required for efficient memory formation. Those suffering from alcohol addiction are likely to experience a significant change in brain function.
You’re at a higher risk of developing certain cancers
Habitual drinking increases the risk of many different types of cancer including breast, liver, mouth, throat and esophageal. It’s thought that the reason for this is because the body converts alcohol into acetaldehyde – a potent carcinogen.
Your risk of addiction increases
One of the most obvious consequences of heavy drinking is an increased risk of developing an alcohol addiction.
Dependency often develops as we become increasingly tolerant to the effects of alcohol. The more we drink, the more we need to increase our intake in order to get the same buzz. Withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, sweating, feeling shaky and even seizures often drive people to continue drinking even when they want to quit.
You’re more prone to heart problems
It has been found that binge drinking doubles the risk of death amongst those who initially survived a heart attack. Heavy drinking can also cause heart disease and cardiomyopathy (a potentially deadly condition in which the heart muscle weakens and eventually fails as well as rhythm abnormalities).
It damages your liver
The liver converts food into energy, removes waste products from the body and plays a vital role in fighting infections. Alcohol is one of the biggest causes of liver damage and many people who are addicted to alcohol develop cirrhosis as a result. This means that the liver becomes so heavily scarred that it’s unable to function which can even be fatal.
You are more likely to experience mental health problems
Heavy drinking often goes hand-in-hand with depression. It is however unknown if excessive alcohol consumption causes depression or if depression makes people more likely to drink in an attempt to self-medicate.
It can trigger dementia
As we age, our brains shrink at a rate of about 1.9% per decade. Heavy drinking speeds this up however which results in memory loss and other symptoms of dementia.
It affects fertility
Couples who are trying for a baby are advised to avoid alcohol altogether. For women, it can affect the menstrual cycle and reduce the chances of conceiving. Alcohol has also been shown to reduce testosterone levels in men and sperm can also take a dip in performance which makes it much harder to conceive.
You can develop pancreatitis
The pancreas produces digestive juices and hormones which aid digestion and blood sugar regulation. Frequently drinking too much can cause pancreatitis which is a serious condition caused by your pancreas becoming inflamed. This can also trigger the development of diabetes.
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