Effects of Alcohol on the Body, from Behavioral Problems to Organ Damage
Alcohol is one of the most consumed substances worldwide. Drinking a little alcohol may not immediately cause fatal harm. However, you can feel the effect of alcohol on the body after the first sip. Apart from addiction, here are the various effects of alcohol on the body if consumed in excess in the long term.
How does alcohol affect the body?
Just like other illegal drugs, alcohol can also damage your body. Especially if you drink an excessive amount of alcohol every day.
Alcohol affects your body in many ways. Some of the effects of alcohol on the body can be immediate and may last only briefly. While some other effects may not be immediately apparent.
Even so, you shouldn’t be happy just yet. This effect will generally accumulate over time until it will damage your physical, mental, and even quality of life.
In general, the effects of alcohol on the body depend on:
Basically, the more and often a person drinks alcohol, the greater the effect they will feel on their body.
Effects of alcohol on the body in the short term
In fact, the effect alcohol has on your body and mind can be felt after the first sip. These effects can range from mild to severe.
Here are some of the effects alcohol has on the body and mind that you need to know.
- Heart palpitations
- Red face
- Core body temperature drops causing your body to feel warm to the touch
- Heavy sweating
- Blurred vision
- Blood pressure increases
- Mood swings
- Walking unsteadily
- Rambling on, or speaking incoherently
- Nausea and vomiting
- Heartburn (acid reflux)
- Diarrhea
- Dehydration
- Urinating more
- Restless while sleeping
- Hangover
- Alcohol poisoning
It is important to understand that the severity of alcohol’s short-term effects on the body usually depends on how much a person drinks it.
In addition, other factors such as the type of alcohol, body fluid intake, and the food a person consumes before drinking alcohol also affects how severe the effects are.
Long-term effects of alcohol
Frequent drinking of large amounts of alcohol over time can cause a variety of chronic physical and mental health problems. In fact, the World Health Organization (WHO) says alcohol causes more than 200 types of diseases and injuries.
Some of the most common long-term effects of alcohol on the body include:
- Liver and kidney damage
- Damage to the pancreas
- Nerve damage
- Permanent brain damage
- Cardiovascular disease
- Lung infection
- Diabetes
- Cancer, including cancer of the oral cavity, cancer of the pharynx, cancer of the larynx, cancer of the esophagus, liver cancer, colon cancer, and breast cancer
- Being overweight and obese
- Folate deficiency and even malnutrition
- Sexual problems, such as impotence, premature ejaculation, and infertility (infertility)
- Mental health conditions, such as excessive anxiety and depression
- Long-term behavioral disorders, such as self-harm and even suicide attempts.
In 2012, WHO reported that nearly 6 percent of all deaths worldwide were caused by alcohol consumption. Worldwide, more men die from alcohol consumption than women. So, be wise if you want to consume liquor.
Check blood alcohol levels
Excessive amounts of alcohol in the body can cause a variety of the side effects described previously. Generally, to find out how much alcohol is in the body, you have to do a blood test.
However, now you can estimate whether your blood alcohol level is still within normal limits or not by checking your alcohol level at Hellosehat. Or, you can also click this link http://bit.ly/CekKadarAlcoholDalamDarah, to try to check the amount of alcohol in the body.
Hello Health Group and Hello Sehat do not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Please check our editorial policy page for more detailed information.
