The pleasing effects of alcohol are undeniable. From the very first step, a person feels more relaxed and happy. Your brain finds alcohol drinking fun and your nerves are pleased, but the long-term effects of alcohol consumption can be very detrimental to your health. Alcohol can lead to several different kinds of cancer as well as mental disorders such as depression and societal withdrawal. While drinking alcohol in moderation can have some positive benefits to a person’s body, excessive and alcoholic behaviors are dangerous. Let us define the difference. Having a few drinks here and there or a glass of wine with dinner is not alcoholism. Alcoholism is a disease that is characterized by the inability to control alcohol use and the impulse to consume alcohol constantly. With help from groups like Beachway, alcoholism is treatable. If any of the behaviors mentioned sound familiar, it is important to seek professional help before the negative effects of alcohol wreak havoc on the body.
Brain
There is no question that alcohol impairs the brain. When you consume alcohol, you are walking down a road towards impaired speech, memory loss, poor judgement, and reduced coordination. The memory loss, also called “blackouts,” is actually a minor form of amnesia, which can develop into a serious disorder that causes eye twitching and even seizures. Drinking releases dopamine, which explains the pleasing effects of alcohol. However, too much of this neurotransmitter and the user can experience delusions and night terrors, not to mention shortness of breath and increased heart rate. The same is true of endorphins, which are naturally released when you exercise or have sex. However, too many endorphins released from excessive alcohol consumption and the body suffers from depression, fatigue, and infertility.
Organs
As if all the effects alcohol has on the brain are not enough, alcohol affects every organ in the body. We are all familiar that drinking affects the liver, but do you know to what extent? Alcohol causes the liver to accumulate fat, which means the liver is clogged and cannot function efficiently. If the liver cannot function properly, the body cannot process toxins. Alcohol causes inflammation in the stomach and the heart muscle as well. Bones deteriorate more quickly from excessive drinking, which may ultimately lead to osteoporosis or frequent bone fractures. The colon, the pancreas, and the breasts are also at higher right of cancer in a body that consumes excessive alcohol as well. Every part of the body is affected when a person consumes alcohol, so it is important to seek help if you cannot quit on your own.
