Alcohol and your body
Excessive alcohol consumption can have detrimental effects on various organ systems in your body. One of the primary organs affected is the liver. When alcohol is metabolized by the liver, it produces toxic byproducts that contribute to liver inflammation. Prolonged inflammation can lead to liver damage, such as alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, and even liver cancer.
Moreover, alcohol also affects the cardiovascular system. It can increase your heart rate and blood pressure, putting strain on the heart and increasing the risk of cardiovascular diseases like hypertension, heart attack, and stroke.
Alcohol can weaken the immune system, making you more susceptible to infections and diseases. It impairs the function of immune cells and reduces the production of antibodies, making it harder for your body to fight off pathogens.
Alcohol and the Brain
The nervous system is also significantly impacted by alcohol.
It acts as a depressant, slowing down brain activity and impairing cognition, judgment, and coordination. Alcohol can lead to poor decision-making, impaired motor skills, and even blackouts or memory loss.
Alcohol can also release chemicals called endorphins and raise levels of dopamine, the “feel good” hormone. It can make you feel energetic and happy (euphoric) right after you drink alcohol, but the effects don’t last.
You can feel anxious and irritable when neurotransmitters rebound beyond their usual levels. This can also make you depressed or anxious.
Drinking alcohol can cause cognitive changes like memory problems, slow reaction times, behaviour problems, and poor concentration.
Eventually, alcohol can damage the protective coating surrounding nerve cells and ultimately the nerves themselves, “The ability to learn, remember, plan, and focus all suffers.”
Conclusion
In addition to these immediate effects, excessive alcohol consumption over time can lead to chronic health problems like alcoholism, addiction, mental health disorders, and an increased risk of various types of cancer.
