Alcohol may not immediately affect the body, but it starts from the moment you take the first sip. Consuming alcohol comes with many experiences, such as a warm buzz that kicks in quickly, a relaxed feeling away from the stress, a pleasant wine headache, and a hangover that shows up the next morning. However, these effects last only a short time, even if you drink more often.
Many people who consume alcohol think that one glass of beer or occasional wine at mealtimes isn’t a cause for concern. But according to a recent study in The Lancet, it is concluded that no amount of alcohol intake is safe and potentially leads to unwanted health consequences. Also, people who binge drink may notice the adverse health effects sooner than those who drink in moderation. For example, the health effects of alcohol on physical and mental well-being may be more severe and noticeable if they drink regularly or tend to have more than one or two drinks a day.
This article will provide details on how alcohol can affect your body and brain, plus a few tips to find alcohol help or select rehab therapies if you are considering cutting back or quitting alcohol.
Alcohol and the Brain
While moderate alcohol consumption may cause a few health effects, binge or compulsive drinking can damage the brain. And the symptoms vary from person to person. For example, some people may experience hallucinations, and others may develop dementia. Read on to learn how drinking alcohol might damage your brain.
Short-term Effects of Alcohol on the Brain
Alcohol consumption changes brain chemistry. The heavy amounts of alcohol increase the activity of the primary inhibitory neurotransmitter, GABA (Gamma-aminobutyric acid), in the brain and suppress the action of the neurons, causing slurred speech, lapses in short-term memory, unsteady gait, and slowed reflexes. The most severe effects of alcohol also include blackouts. According to a report by BBC, a blood alcohol level between 0.20 to 0.30 per cent may induce a total blackout. Blackouts are time lapses when you cannot remember anything after waking up the next day after alcohol consumption.
Also, the changes in brain chemistry may take a person through different moods, such as aggression, anger, confusion, depression, euphoria, and mania. Too much alcohol consumption in a short period of time is very much capable of slowing down a person’s breathing and heart rate, leading to a coma.
Long-term Effects of Alcohol on the Brain
Drinking heavily for long may cause chronic changes in neurotransmitter activity and may lead to structural abnormalities. A few potential long-term effects of alcohol on the brain include:
- Brain shrinkage
- Dementia
- Poor circulation in the brain
- Changes in mood or personality
- Nutritional deficiencies that may damage the brain
- Cardiovascular health issues that increase the risk of stroke
- Dementia
- Mental health issues, including hallucinations and psychosis
Chronic exposure to alcohol in children may stunt brain development. However, if pregnant women consume alcohol, it may lead to foetal alcohol syndrome.
Alcohol and the Body
Not just the brain, but alcohol consumption affects every other organ of the body, starting from the liver, heart, pancreas, and glands to the immune system and sexual and reproductive health.
Liver or Inflammatory Damage
Unlike the heart, lungs, and stomach, the liver is an organ with which you have no sensory connection. So while you can feel your heart beating, stomach growling, and lungs breathing, the function of the liver cannot be judged.
Every toxin, such as alcohol, in the body, is absorbed by the intestine and passes through the liver for processing before being distributed to the rest of the body. And one of the long-term consequences of binge drinking includes unhealthy functioning of the liver. In this condition, scar tissue builds up in the liver, which limits blood flow, and liver cells don’t get survival aids. And as they die off, the liver stops working well, leading to cirrhosis.
Pancreas
The pancreatic gland regulates the usage of insulin in the body and how it responds to glucose. And when it doesn’t function properly due to pancreatitis, you may experience low blood sugar levels, called hypoglycaemia. On the other hand, a damaged pancreas may also prevent the production of insulin in the body, leading to excessive blood sugar levels, called hyperglycaemia.
Drinking too much alcohol can cause any of the above conditions. When you drink alcohol, it jams the whole process, and chemicals remain inside the pancreas. They cause inflammation in the organ over time, meaning you won’t be able to make. Also, the pancreas produces digestive enzymes in the body. Hence, digestive problems are common in those with alcohol abuse. This heavy alcohol consumption also increases the risk of pancreatic cancer.
An Offbeat Heart
Most people don’t think heart as something to be get affected by alcohol, but its heavy use can affect the heart directly and indirectly. For example, alcohol abuse causes high blood pressure, stroke, and heart failure. Likewise, liver problems cause fluid build-up around the heart, leading to heart failure.
Abusing alcohol for long periods causes the weakening and thinning of the heart muscle, affecting its ability to pump blood. As a result, the body’s organs become congested and starved of oxygen and other nutrients. The disrupted blood flow disturbs the primary body functions and can evolve into heart failure.
Hearing Loss
Alcohol impacts hearing, but the process is unknown. Most researchers believe that alcohol messes with certain parts of the brain that processes sound or maybe that it damages the nerves and tiny hair in the ears responsible for hearing. Whatever the reason, drinking alcohol makes you more susceptible to louder sounds. Meaning you need a sound to be more audible to listen to that. Drinking heavily, therefore, may cause hearing loss.
More Stomach Acid
Alcohol, being toxic, disturbs or irritates the lining of the stomach, making the digestive juices flow. As a result, the alcohol build gets you nauseous, and you may feel like throwing up. Hence, people who suffer from alcohol addiction may have a higher risk of developing ulcers and, sometimes, gastritis.
Get Help Now!
No matter if you just started drinking or have had a drinking problem for a long, it is high time to stop drinking if you value your life. While quitting alcohol from the root may be challenging for some, it is easy to manage. Limiting alcohol use help reverse alcohol-related brain damage, reduce the risk of further damage, and prevent premature death. Fighting alcoholism requires strength, courage, and support from your loved ones. However, many people experience relapse. But, it is essential to remember that it is not a personal failure. When you decide to quit alcohol, you need the right combination of mental health support, including rehab therapies. The surroundings also make a big difference in pushing people towards sobriety. If doing so feels impossible, you can contact an inpatient rehab for alcohol help. The rehabs provide adequate alcohol addiction treatment programs where initiating sobriety feels more manageable.
