About this topic
Drinking alcohol is very common. Whether you have a single drink or many drinks, alcohol can have a serious effect on your health at any age. It is one of the leading causes of poor health and illness. Alcohol can lead to death. It comes in many forms like: ‚
- Beer
- Wine
- Hard liquor like whiskey, gin, vodka, etc.
The amount of damage alcohol will have on you is based on many things like: ‚
- How much alcohol you drink
- The kind of alcohol you drink
- How often you drink alcohol
- Your genetic background
- A family history of alcoholism or other addictions
Alcohol hurts every part of the body. Some effects are short term and others are long term. No amount of alcohol is safe if you are pregnant or plan to drive or operate machinery. Also, do not drink any alcohol if you have a medical condition or take drugs that will interact with alcohol. ‚
General
Alcohol is very harmful to your body. It can cause many illnesses and can affect how you look. ‚
Alcohol and Your Brain ‚
Alcohol affects how your brain works. ‚
- It can change your mood and your behavior.
- You may have trouble thinking clearly or moving in a coordinated way.
- It can cause problems with your memory.
- You may feel depressed, anxious, or even suicidal.
Alcohol and Your Heart ‚
People who drink alcohol are at a higher risk of having heart problems like: ‚
- Stroke
- High blood pressure
- Irregular heart beats
- Cardiomyopathy ¢ ˆ ’ Large and weak heart muscle
Alcohol and Your Liver ‚
Your liver is responsible for filtering many chemicals from your blood, including the alcohol you drink. Over time this can lead to liver damage and: ‚
- Cirrhosis
- Hepatitis
- Poor liver function
Alcohol and Your Pancreas ‚
Your pancreas normally helps with digestion and works to control your blood sugar. Alcohol can cause you to have: ‚
- Swollen pancreas
- Pancreatitis
- Diabetes
Alcohol and Cancer ‚
Drinking alcohol raises your risks of getting certain kinds of cancers. If you drink, you are more likely to get: ‚
- Mouth cancer
- Throat cancer
- Esophageal cancer ¢ ˆ ’ Cancer in the tube from the mouth to stomach
- Liver cancer
- Breast cancer
- Bowel cancer
Alcohol and Digestion ‚
When you drink you may have: ‚
- An upset stomach and throw up
- Loose stools
- Signs of irritable bowel syndrome
Alcohol and Pregnancy ‚
If you drink when you are pregnant, your baby is exposed to the alcohol. Drinking while pregnant puts your baby at a high risk for: ‚
- Miscarriage or stillbirth
- Being small
- Having problems seeing and hearing
- Having learning problems and trouble paying attention
- Poor IQ
- Problems with speech and language
- Trouble paying attention
- Eating, sleeping, and sucking problems
- Problems with heart, kidneys, or bones
- Problems getting along with other children
Alcohol and the Immune System ‚
Your immune system helps your body fight disease. Drinking: ‚
- Lowers the effects of your immune system
- Makes you more likely to get infections
Alcohol and Children ‚
If you drink, your children: ‚
- Will model your behavior. Be a good role model.
- Can be harmed by your risky behavior. Do not drink and drive.
- Need to learn about the bad effects of alcohol. Many people first try alcohol before the age of 21. Encourage your children never to drink.
Alcohol and Sex Life ‚
If you drink you are more likely to have problems such as: ‚
- Decreased blood flow to the penis. This is also called erectile dysfunction.
- Vaginal dryness
- Trouble getting pregnant
- Being more likely to take part in risky behaviors like unprotected sex. This can lead to infections and unwanted pregnancy.
- Less desire for sex
General Effects of Alcohol ‚
When you drink, you may: ‚
- Have slower reaction times
- Be more emotional
- Be more likely to become angry or violent
- Be easily confused
- Feel less inhibited
- Have poor judgment
- Be more likely to do risky things
- Get sick more easily
- Have more trouble getting pregnant
Even if you have been drinking for many years, it is not too late to quit. Your body starts to heal as soon as you stop alcohol. It is better to quit when you are young, but you can still get healthier if you quit at any age. ‚
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Helpful tips
If you choose to drink alcohol, most doctors suggest that women drink no more than1 to 2 drinks per day and men do not drink more than 2 to 3 drinks per day. ‚
Some helpful steps you can take to help you quit alcohol: ‚
- Ask your doctor for help. You may need close monitoring while you stop drinking alcohol.
- Slowly reduce your alcohol. Stopping quickly can cause seizures. Follow your doctors orders on how to reduce your alcohol.
- Set a date to quit alcohol.
- Know the reasons that make you drink more. A therapist may be able to help you with this.
- Write down each time you drink. Include the time and what you are doing. Plan ahead about what you will do instead of drinking when that time or event reappears.
- Tell your family and friends about your plan to quit drinking alcohol. Let them know how to help you.
- Remove alcohol products from your home and other places.
- Avoid places and situations where you will more likely drink. If people close to you drink, ask them to quit with you. If they do not quit, ask them to not drink around you.
- Reward or treat yourself every time you do not drink. Do not use food as a reward.
- Find a support group near you.
Where can I learn more?
Center for Disease Control and Prevention ‚
http://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm ‚
KidsHealth ‚
http://kidshealth.org/parent/positive/talk/alcohol.html ‚
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism ‚
http://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/alcohols-effects-body ‚
Consumer Information Use and Disclaimer
This information is not specific medical advice and does not replace information you receive from your health care provider. This is only a brief summary of general information. It does NOT include all information about conditions, illnesses, injuries, tests, procedures, treatments, therapies, discharge instructions or life-style choices that may apply to you. You must talk with your health care provider for complete information about your health and treatment options. This information should not be used to decide whether or not to accept your health care providers advice, instructions or recommendations. Only your health care provider has the knowledge and training to provide advice that is right for you. ‚
Copyright
Copyright ‚ © 2015 Clinical Drug Information, LLC and Lexi-Comp, Inc. ‚