It is common knowledge that drinking alcohol excessively is not healthy, but that is an understatement. In reality, alcohol addiction can have horrendous effects on the body and mind. Let’s take a look at these effects and see exactly what can happen to your body when you drink alcohol.
Physical Effects
First, let’s take a look at the physical effects alcohol has on the body. These are actual, observable changes in the body and its organs that occur when you drink alcohol.
Liver Damage
The liver is responsible for metabolizing, or breaking down, any alcohol you put into your body. Your liver is very good at its job, but it does have its limits. Excessive or prolonged drinking places too much stress on the liver, damaging it and making it less effective at its job. When this happens it can lead to acute alcohol-related hepatitis, liver disease, and cirrhosis.
Increased Risk of Cancer
The more alcohol you consume, the higher your risk of developing cancer becomes. Several factors contribute to this increased risk. First, when your body breaks down alcohol, it creates acetaldehyde, a known carcinogen. Second, alcohol is known to cause DNA damage. When this happens, the likelihood of cell mutations that can lead to cancer increases. Finally, alcohol has been proven to interfere with the body’s ability to absorb essential nutrients that protect against cancer.
Brain and Nerve Impairment
Not many people know that alcohol is actually considered a neurotoxin. This means that prolonged use of alcohol can actually cause structural changes in the brain, such as atrophy of nerve cells and brain shrinkage. These physical changes to the brain can lead to severe cognitive impairments.
Weakened Immune System
Chronic alcohol use weakens the immune system in a couple of ways. First, alcohol use slows down white blood cell production. These cells are responsible for fighting off disease and infection. Additionally, alcohol interferes with the communication between immune cells, leading to imbalances and ineffective immune responses.
Cardiovascular Issues
Alcohol can severely damage the cardiovascular system. It does this by raising blood pressure, causing cardiomyopathy, causing arrhythmias, and increasing the risk of stroke. With regular alcohol use, comes an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.
Mental Effects
Alcohol does not just cause physical effects in the body, but also mental effects. These effects can seriously lower your quality of life.
Memory Problems
Binge drinking can cause short-term lapse in memory formation. This is commonly referred to as a “blackout”. However, this is not the only way alcohol can affect memory. Chronic use of alcohol can cause damage to the hippocampus, which plays a crucial role in forming new memories.
Mood Swings
Alcohol affects the brain’s chemistry. It alters neurotransmitters, leading to mood swings. When alcohol is consumed, your emotions can swing wildly. You may be content one moment, and then filled with anger or anxiety the next. Prolonged alcohol use can even cause you to fall into a deep depression.
Aggression and Irritability
Alcohol is known to impair cognitive function, judgment, and impulse control. When this happens, it is extremely common for a person to display increased anger and aggression. Additionally, after consuming alcohol, a person may react irritably or annoyed by the smallest of requests. Luckily, this increase in aggression and irritability is usually short-term, fading as the alcohol leaves the person’s system.
Co-occurring Disorders
According to the National Institute of Mental Health, it is estimated that more than one in five U.S. adults live with a mental illness. For people in this group, alcohol addiction can be especially dangerous. Alcohol use has been proven to worsen a number of mental health conditions, including anxiety, depression, and PTSD. When people with these conditions consume alcohol, their symptoms worsen and become more prevalent.