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