Alcohol & Physical effects
Heavy consumption of Alcohol can affect our internal organs and body processes.
Endocrine glands and digestive glands
Pancreatitis is the result of inflammation of pancreas it happens when too much of alcohol is consumed. Pancreatitis activates the release of pancreatic digestive enzymes which leads to abdominal pain. When this pancreatitis becomes a long term condition it can cause serious complications.
Inflammatory damage
Liver helps our body to function properly by removing and break downing harmful substances and toxins ( including alcohol ). Excess and long term use of alcohol interferes with this process. This increases the risk of alcohol related diseases and chronic liver inflammation.
Alcohol related liver conditions is life threatening that directs toxins and waste buildup in the body. Chronic liver inflammation results to scarring or cirrhosis. When scar tissue forms, it can permanently damage liver.
Sugar Levels
Pancreas helps body to regulate insulin and responds to glucose. If pancreas and liver can’t function properly due to the pancreatitis or liver disease, it can lead to experience low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia. Worsened pancreas can stave off our body from producing enough insulin to use sugar. This condition leads to hyperglycemia or too much sugar in the blood.
If your body is not able to manage and balance your blood sugar level you may experience vaster complications and side effects related to diabetes. Physicians recommend avoiding excessive amounts of alcohol if you have diabetes or hypoglycemia.
Central Nervous System
The best way to realize alcohol’s impact on your body is to understand how it affects your central nervous system.
Alcohol reduces the communication between your body and brain. This leads to slurred speech and intoxication. It can affect speech and coordination, think the reaction time, and balance more difficult. Because of this driving is tuff after drinking. Numbness and tingling in your feet and hands are due to damage to the central nervous system.
Consumption of Alcohol also affects the ability to :-
- Create long term memories
- Think Clearly
- Make rational choices
- Regulate your emotions
Drinking can also damage the frontal lobe, part of the brain which is responsible for executive functions( like abstract reasoning, decision making, social behavior, and performance). Wernicke- Korsakoff syndrome is a brain disorder that affects memory due to chronic heavy drinking.
Digestive System
The consumption of alcohol and the digestive system is connected indirectly. The side effects appear only after the damage has happened.
An increase in the consumption of alcohol can damage the tissue in the digestive tract, prevents the intestine from digesting food, and absorbing nutrients and vitamins properly. Thus this damage can cause malnutrition.
Heavy drinking can also lead to :-
- The feeling of fullness in the abdomen
- Diarrhea or painful stools
- Ulcers or hemorrhoids ( due to dehydration and constipation)
- Gas trouble and bloating
Circulatory system
Drinking can affect the heart and lungs, and also develops the risk of heart-related health issues.
Trouble in the circulatory system includes:-
- Irregular heartbeat
- Heart attack, Heart diseases, Heart failure
- Stroke
- High blood pressure
Difficulty in pumping blood through the body. The complication in absorbing vitamins and minerals from food can cause fatigue and anemia. This is the condition where the affected one has a low red blood cell count.
Skeletal and Muscle system
Severe alcohol consumption in the long term can affect bone density, leading to thinner bones and increasing the risk of fractures. Weakened bones heal slower. Drinking habit also leads to muscle weakness, cramping, and atrophy.
Immune system
Heavy drinking reduces the body’s natural immune system. A weakened immune system can’t very easily protect our body from germs and viruses. Drinking habits for a long period gradually develop pneumonia or tuberculosis. This drinking condition can also lead to risks of cancer ( mouth, throat, breast, esophagus, colon, or liver cancer)
Sexual and reproductive health
Drinking alcohol lowers inhibitions. Heavy drinking prevents sex hormone production, keeps you away from getting or maintaining an erection, it will be tuff to achieve orgasm, and also lowers the libido. Excessive drinking may affect the menstrual cycle and potentially increase the risk of infertility.
