Bad Effects of Alcohol on Health

Medical practitioners have classified alcohol as a "sedative hypnotic’ drug and the reason being it "depresses the central nervous system" when one drinks it frequently. It has been found that people often take lower doses of alcohol to feel euphoria; talkativeness also results due to low doses of drinking alcohol. Some of the consequences of drinking too much alcohol in one time are drowsiness, slow breathing, respiratory depression, coma and death.

Bones and muscles: The high level of blood alcohol impairs the brain’s thought process and coordination of muscles slow down. This can result in severe injuries on minor accidents, tripping and falling. The drinkers also feel clumsiness and there can be difficulty in walking. It has been found that moderate alcohol helps in protecting one from osteoporosis but heavy drinking can result in osteoporosis as heavy doses of alcohol can disrupt the calcium absorption process.

Blood and immune system: Heavy consumption of alcohol can lead to blood abnormalities. The person many develop anaemia and low platelets. Heavy drinking can suppress the immune system and can affect the white blood cardiomyopathy. It can eventually result in heart failure.

Brain, nervous system & eyes: Drinking leads to impaired concentration, judgment and loss of inhibitions, and can also result in drowsiness and coma. There can be loss of memory in occasional and regular heavy drinkers. Heavy drinking can also make one’s vision blurred.

Breasts – Women: Women who have a history of long-term alcohol consumption are also at the risk of breast cancer. The higher alcohol leads to higher risk of cancer in the breasts. Even drinking one or two drinks per day cannot suffice the risk of cancer.

Liver: The heavy alcohol drinking regularly can damage the liver. The fats start building up in the liver which can result in alcoholic hepatitis and eventually cirrhosis. It has been found that alcoholic hepatitis occurs only in a small percent (10-35) of heavy drinkers. Some of the symptoms that can be experienced by the person suffering from alcoholic hepatitis are jaundice, tender liver, feeling unwell, swollen stomach.

Alcohol can cause many health issues related to heart and blood pressure, intestines, kidneys and fluid balance, pancreas and digestion of sugar, and can affect the sexual health of both men and women. Acute alcohol drinking can also cause stomach and food pipe (oesophagus) and alcohol poisoning.

Alistair Maag is a Owner of Galahad Sms Ltd, a Galahad Drug And Alcohol Education and Presentations organization. For more details, please visit http://galahad.co.uk/