Effects of alcohol – Tribune Online

You may not feel the effects of alcohol immediately after you take it, but it starts from the moment you take your first sip.

The effects of alcohol vary from person to person, depending on the person’s physical health, age and immune system.

According to Ann Pietrangelo and Crystal Raypole on Healthline, the effects of alcohol on your health depend on how much you drink. The more you drink, the greater the risk of harm to your health.

Many people assume that occasionally ingesting alcohol on special occasions has no effect on the body, not knowing that drinking any amount of alcohol can have potentially unwanted health effects.

People who drink heavily may be more likely to notice more effects, but it also has some effects on people who drink in moderation.

Alcohol can take its toll on a person’s physical and mental health. These effects can be more severe if you drink regularly and tend to have more than one or two drinks when you do.

There are short and long-term effects of drinking alcohol.

Short-term effects are the temporary effects that you may notice while taking it, and in some cases, may be shortly after you take it. The long-term effects are long-lasting effects that occur after long-term regular alcohol consumption. The effects are not noticed immediately, but occur later in life.

Some of the short-term effects are:

1. weight loss
2. Changes in mood, including anxiety and irritability.
3. Memory and concentration problem
4. Insomnia
5. Weakened immune system
6. Changes in Sexual Function

Some of the long-term effects are;

1. Psychological Effects

Drinking alcohol regularly can cause changes in your brain that affect your memory, emotions or mood, and impulse control. It can also affect overall mental health and well-being.

2. Immune System

Drinking regularly reduces your natural immune system. A weakened immune system can hardly protect you against germs and viruses. People who drink regularly develop a weakened immune system over time and this makes them vulnerable to viruses of any kind, disrupting their well-being.

3. Weakened Bones

Drinking alcohol regularly can affect bone density. This leads to thinner bones and an increased risk of fractures if you fall. Weakened bones can also heal more slowly because bone density is compromised.

4. Sexual and Reproductive Health

Many people assume that alcohol can increase their pleasure in the bedroom, not knowing that alcohol can decrease their inhibitions. Drinking regularly can prevent you from getting or maintaining an erection, makes it difficult to reach orgasm, and prevents the production of sex hormones. It can also affect your menstrual cycle and increase your risk of infertility.

5. Circulatory Complications

Circulatory complications include stroke, heart disease, heart attacks, heart failure, high blood pressure, and irregular heartbeat. These complications are caused by regular drinking. Drinking alcohol regularly increases your risk of developing heart-related health problems.

6. Inflammation of the Pancreas

Inflammation of the pancreas results in pancreatitis. Pancreatitis activates the release of pancreatic enzymes and causes abdominal pain. Drinking alcohol over time causes inflammation of the pancreas.

7. Diabetes

The pancreas is responsible for how your body uses insulin and responds to glucose. If your pancreas is not functioning properly because of pancreatitis, you may have low sugar levels.

A damaged pancreas also prevents your body from making enough insulin to regulate sugar. This can lead to low blood sugar or too much sugar in the blood. If your blood is unable to control and balance your blood sugar levels, you may experience side effects such as diabetes.

Therefore, experts recommend avoiding excessive amounts of alcohol if you have diabetes.

8. Central Nervous System

Slurred speech, a major sign of intoxication, happens because alcohol reduces communication between your brain and body. This makes speech and coordination more difficult.

Regular intake of alcohol can cause damage to your central nervous system. It can also damage the frontal lobe, the part of the brain responsible for decision making, abstract reasoning and performance. It can also cause permanent brain damage in its entirety.

9. Malnutrition

Alcohol’s side effects on your digestive system don’t show up until after the damage is done. Drinking regularly can damage your digestive tract, preventing your gut from digesting food and absorbing vitamins and nutrients properly. This can eventually lead to malnutrition.

Some of the effects of alcohol have been mentioned above. To reduce the risk of all of these effects, consider stopping alcohol consumption on a regular basis.

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