| Alcohol and health effects of alcohol on the body can | | | | Babies born with fetal alcohol syndrome will have |
| be short term or long term effects. The consumption | | | | physical abnormalities, mental impairment and problems |
| of alcohol and health related problems can occur over | | | | with behavior. To avoid negative alcohol and health |
| a short time frame, while other conditions and long | | | | effects during pregnancy, do not drink alcohol while |
| term effects of alcohol on the body may only happen | | | | pregnant as no one knows exactly how much alcohol |
| following years of alcohol abuse. | | | | causes birth defects. |
| Alcohol comes into direct contact with the mouth, | | | | Because alcohol and health effects can involve many |
| throat, esophagus, stomach and intestines as well as | | | | organs in the body, long-term heavy drinking puts you |
| being absorbed into the bloodstream. Health problems | | | | at risk for developing serious health conditions and |
| can begin as headaches, feeling nauseated, sore | | | | illnesses. Here are examples of long term effects of |
| throat or indigestion. However, if alcohol abuse | | | | alcohol on the body:o Liver Inflammation and Cirrhosis |
| continues, these and other alcohol and health | | | | of the Liver - liver inflammation symptoms include |
| symptoms can develop into more serious illnesses and | | | | abnormal yellowing of the skin, eyeballs and urine, |
| diseases. | | | | fever and abdominal pain. And in the case of cirrhosis, |
| Here are examples of short term health effects of | | | | as many as one in five heavy drinkers will develop |
| alcohol on the body:o Nausea, Vomiting, Dizziness, | | | | cirrhosis of the liver. Alcohol is especially harmful to the |
| Hangovers - excessive alcohol consumption can result | | | | liver since the liver is needed to metabolize alcohol. |
| in the body trying to protect itself by getting rid of the | | | | Alcohol destroys liver cells, and it destroys the ability of |
| alcohol and vomiting. Alcohol and health and the central | | | | the liver to regenerate new cells.o Cancer - long term |
| nervous system are related since alcohol affects a | | | | heavy drinkers increase their risk for certain forms of |
| person's sense of balance and orientation, leading to a | | | | cancer such as cancer of the mouth, throat and |
| feeling of nausea and/or dizziness. Hangovers are | | | | esophagus and colon.o Heart disease - long term |
| partly due to the body's dehydration caused by alcohol | | | | heavy drinking increases a person's risk for developing |
| consumption, and hangover effects of alcohol on the | | | | high blood pressure and heart disease.o Pancreaitis - |
| body may be felt a few hours after consuming | | | | long term heavy drinking can result in the development |
| alcohol.o Loss of Muscle Control - slurred speech is | | | | of inflammation of the pancreas called pancreaitis. The |
| one of the effects of alcohol on the body. Impaired | | | | pancreas are needed for food digestion, and |
| judgement and poor coordination are alcohol and | | | | pancreaitis symptoms include severe abdominal pain |
| health effects that can lead to falls and accidents.o | | | | and weight loss. Pancreaitis can be life-threatening. |
| Adverse Interactions with Medications - alcohol is | | | | Additional long term negative alcohol and health |
| known to interact negatively with at least 100 | | | | effects on the body include damage to the brain, |
| medications. For example, antihistamines taken with | | | | nerve damage, bleeding in the esophagus, erectile |
| alcohol can increase the drowsiness that this | | | | dysfunction in men, insomnia and depression. If you'd |
| medication by itself can cause. Large doses of the | | | | like to learn more about alcoholism stages and warning |
| painkiller acetaminophen taken together when | | | | signs, there are proven resources available that can |
| consuming alcohol increases the risk of liver damage.o | | | | help. It is never too late to begin recovery from alcohol |
| Pregnancy Risks - alcohol can cause numerous birth | | | | addiction. |
| defects, the most serious being fetal alcohol syndrome. | | | | |