Did you know one out of eight Americans struggle with abusing alcohol? If you’re struggling, we can help.
Are you wondering what alcohol does to your body? Not to worry! In this guide, we’ll go over how drinking liquors can affect your mind and body.
Want to learn more? Keep reading to find out.
What Are the Short-Term Effects of Drinking?
Even if you don’t drink often, you can still experience short-term effects.
The effects of alcohol will depend on how much you drink and can range from mild to serve.
The liver can metabolize one drink every hour. This can vary depending on your liver function, weight, and age.
Some people have lowered inhibitions after drinking, leading to poor judgment. People often say things they regret the next day.
Other symptoms include mood swings, reduced body temperature, or trouble concentrating.
Brain Shrinkage and Alcoholism
Drinking a lot over the years will affect how your brain works and looks. Brain cells will begin to change and get smaller.
Consuming too much alcohol will shrink your brain. This can affect your ability to remember, think, and learn.
Drinking Affects Your Sleep
Alcohol will cause your brain to slow down, making you feel drowsy. You may even doze off. Drinking before bed won’t help you sleep better, though.
As you sleep, your body has to process the alcohol. You will start tossing and turning. You won’t have an uninterrupted REM sleep that your body needs to feel refreshed.
Some people report vivid dreams and nightmares. Others need to wake up more often to go to the washroom. Having a poor quality of life can lead to physical and mental health complications.
Extra Stomach Acid
Alcohol can irritate your stomach lining, causing digestive juices to flow. If too much acid builds up, you will feel nauseated. After years of heavy drinking, some people end up developing painful ulcers.
Heartburn and Diarrhea
Your colon and small intestine can get irritated if you drink too much. Alcohol will affect the speed that food moves through these two organs. This is why some people will have diarrhea after a night of hard-drinking.
Liver Disease
Your liver’s responsible for breaking down the alcohol you drink. It will also process toxins.
Heavy drinking will cause the organ to get fatty. Fibrous thick tissue will build up, limiting blood flow. The liver cells won’t get what they need to survive.
As the cells die, the liver stops working and becomes scarred. This disease’s called cirrhosis.
In most cases, the damage done to your liver by cirrhosis can’t get undone. If you get a diagnosis early on, you can limit further damage.
Diabetes and Pancreas Damage
The pancreas makes insulin and other chemicals to help intestines break down food. Alcohol can mess up this process.
The chemicals end up remaining inside your pancreas. These chemicals and toxins from alcohol will cause inflammation in your pancreas.
Over the years, your body won’t be able to make enough insulin. Some people will get diabetes, while others get diagnosed with pancreatic cancer.
Effects on the Immune System
Your immune system’s responsible for fighting off viruses, germs, and other illnesses. Drinking alcohol will slow down your immune system.
Your white blood cells that fight bacteria will become less efficient. Heavy drinkers may die from diseases like pneumonia or tuberculosis.
Effects on the Reproductive System
For men, a common side effect of drinking too much is erectile dysfunction. The production of hormones can get affected as well, leading to infertility.
Women might not stop menstruating or become infertile. Drinking a lot can also increase the risk of breast cancer.
Heart Problems and Drinking
Did you know that even one night of heavy drinking can affect your heart in a negative manner? If you’re drinking a lot all the time, you will face more heart problems.
The risk increases for females. Some heart issues include high blood pressure, heart attacks, or an irregular heartbeat.
Effects on the Central Nervous System
Alcohol can change a person’s behavior. Some people have slurred speech or poor coordination.
Other people might not be able to control their impulses. People report having blackouts and not being able to remember anything.
Binge Drinking and Alcohol Poisoning
Drinking four drinks in a few hours can increase your blood alcohol concentration. This can also lead to alcohol poisoning.
Signs of alcohol poisoning include pale skin, low body temperature, and confusion. You could also have irregular bleeding, nausea, or seizures. Some people will go unconscious.
Alcohol Dependency
People who drink a lot can develop emotional and physical dependence on liquor.
Withdrawing from alcohol can become life-threatening for severe cases. Most people need to get professional treatment to break their addiction to alcohol.
Seeking treatment will help you break the physical addiction in a safe manner. Detoxification can get managed either in an inpatient or outpatient setting.
Symptoms of withdrawal will include nervousness, nausea, or anxiety. Others report tremors, heavy sweating, and an irregular heartbeat. In severe cases, people have hallucinations and seizures.
Are you suffering from withdrawal? Consider getting help with Clean Recovery Centers.
Now You Know What Drinking Liquors Can Do to Your Body
We hope this guide on the effects of alcohol was helpful. Now that you know the answer to “What does drinking liquors do to my body?” try to drink in moderation. If you need help, seek out treatment.
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