The effects of alcohol on the body

The effects of alcohol on the body

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Introduction

Drinking alcohol can be very harmful to your health both physically and mentally. Alcohol affects the body causing a great impact on your body. Research has shown that when a person drinks wine or beer the alcohol content in it is quickly absorbed in the body. The alcohol stays in the body for almost two hours after being absorbed in the body system. However, there are also factors that determine the amount of time the alcohol will stay in the body after being absorbed. These factors include gender and weight.

The effects of alcohol on each group differ. Klatsky (1999) argued that “because CAD accounts for a large proportion of total mortality, the risk of death from all causes is slightly lower among moderate drinkers than among abstainers, but heavier drinkers are at considerably higher total mortality risk”. On the other hand, Kelly et al (2008) argued that there are “relevant aspects of child behavior and development that have previously been linked to mothers’ drinking during pregnancy such as conduct problems and hyperactivity. There are many groups of drinkers. The effects of alcohol on three kinds of people who are binge drinkers, light drinkers, and regular drinkers also differ. The binge drinkers are more prone to social ills such as risky sexual behaviors and violence. The over drinkers are more exposed to health related complications that destroy vital body organs such the heavy and the liver. The light drinkers normally begin through peer pressure and may become over drinkers with time. The light drinkers and regular drinkers are able to control their actions and tend to go about their daily activities. However, they are also exposed to some health complications such as irregular heart beat and blood flow. The pregnant women, irrespective of the nature of during may give birth to babies with complications such as cognitive deficits and structural changes in the brain.

Effects of alcohol on binge drinkers

Binge drinking has is defined as drinking much alcohol to feel the effect of alcohol. They are also called heavy drinkers. That is one drink much alcohol in a short span of time. Different organizations that have carried different statistics clearly argue that men should drink four units of alcohol while women should drink two units of alcohol. On the other hand, binge drinking involves drinking eight units for men and six units for women that have adverse effects on their health. This quickly raises the alcohol concentration in the body. Research has shown that drinking large amount of alcohol in a short period of time affects the body more than drinking small amounts of it frequently (Kanny, 2013). Binge drinking affects both physical and mental health. The effects of binge drinking are;

Binge drinking affects balance and coordination in the body. One is not able to walk upright. That is why many cases of accidents have been reported for people who drive while they are drunk. Alcohol consumption is one of the biggest causes of accidents. This is because of the lack of coordination between the mind and the body (frequently (Kanny, 2013). Binge drinking may lead to death. Alcohol may also choke you causing vomiting.

Binge drinking is common to both men and women of ages 16-24 years old. There are cause of Binge drinkers that have been reported which include street crimes, sexual offenses, and burglaries. This is because people who regularly involve themselves in binge drinking became aggressive and violence in a way. The groups tend to find the activity enjoyable and help them keep their friends and peers. Binge drinking also causes the heart attack. Further, Klatsky (1999) established that cardiac arrhythmias are associated with heavy alcohol consumption. The condition affects the normal heart rhythm. Because of consumption of much alcohol in a short span of time, the drug abuser may become dehydrated. This is because the concentration of alcohol in the body increases. The blood flow increases and at high speed this is may result to heart failure. The attention span of such a person decreases, and one is unable to concentrate for a long period. This makes the person look confused and lacking focus. The sex drive may decrease. It is also referred to as heavy episodic drinking which means heavy consumption of alcohol (Dufour, 1999).

Binge drinking has been associated with cases such as unplanned pregnancies, unprotected sex which leads to the spread of HIV/AIDS. In the United States of America, there have been reported 19 percent of men and 10 percent of women assaulted causes as a result of Binge drinking (Paoletti, 2000). It leads to causes of sexual assaults such as rape. Binge drinking causes adverse effects on the body for instance; it affects the blood homeostasis and the cardiac rhythm. Women who involve themselves in Binge drinking have abdominal pains they may also have reproductive problems. The effects of Binge drinking on the brain are adverse. It causes delayed verbal and auditory memory. It also causes impairment in spatial working memory affecting the pattern recognition. Researchers have found out that binge drinking affects the impulse control. This causes delay recall of visual and verbal information. Binge drinking in the young people causes cognitive impairment (Blocker, Fahey, & Tyrrell, 2003). This results to the inability to interpret and recognize the facial expressions. It causes imbalance between excitatory amino acids and inhibitory causing changes in monoamines release that is in the central nervous system.

Effects of alcohol on light drinkers

Light or moderate drinking has less negative impact on the body. Research shows that there are no adverse effects associated with light drinking. According to Klatsky (199), the “moderate drinkers are at lower risk for the most common form of heart disease, coronary artery disease (CAD) than are either heavier drinkers or abstainers”. There are no increased negative impacts of light drinking especially to the pregnant mothers (Kelly et al., 2008). Research has shown that children born to light drinkers have fewer behavioral problems than those born by mothers who have never drunk. Researchers found out that children who are born to light drinkers have better results in spatial skills, mathematics, and reading tests. Clinical and epidemiological research shows that light drinking is associated with reduced chances of coronary heart disease, mortality rate in middle ages, and ischemic stroke. Light drinking results in prevention of clot formation, reduced aggregation and decreased levels of low density cholesterol (Kelly et al., 2008). This reduces the risk of coronary vascular disease thus, decreasing the rate of blood coagulation and the formation of atheroma.

Light drinking depends on the concentration of pure ethanol in a drink. Light drinking is equated to consumption of one drink per day. This is because one does not consume much alcohol content. Notably, any amount of alcohol consumed by a pregnant mother passes through the placenta to the developing child (Kelly et al., 2008. Developing children do not have organs to metabolize alcohol that enters their developing bodies. That means they absorb all the alcohol, and they have the same concentration of alcohol as the mother.

Alcohol is very toxic to a developing child and can interfere with the brain development. Different researchers say that there is no safe time when a mother is supposed to consume alcohol when she is pregnant (Kelly et al., 2008). This is because the level of alcohol she consumes all goes to the child through the placenta. However, most children who have been exposed to alcohol have no physical and mental defects. A recent research has shown that alcohol consumption can have various effects on a child. These include smooth philtrum, reduced weight and length that why women should be advised to abstain alcohol consumption. As a caution Klatsky (1999) argue that light drinking may cause schemic strokes that may lead to serious disability, particularly among the older people.

Effects of regular drinking

Regular consumption of alcohol is associated with risks such as cancer, high blood pressure, chronic pancreatitis, and malnutrition. It also affects the peripheral nervous system and the central nervous system. Long term or regular consumption of alcohol may damage all the organs in the body. It also decreases the sexual performance especially for men (Paoletti, 2000). People who consume alcohol regularly are at a risk of serious health harm as discussed below.

There are high chances of reduced fertility. This is because the man sexual performance reduces, and he is unable to reproduce. They are unable to satisfy their spouses even to the extent of becoming unproductive. This is because alcohol affects some of the sexual hormones. In women, it causes abdominal pains. Research has shown that alcohol consumption in women increases the chances of breast cancer by 20 percent. Increase in alcohol concentration, in the body raises the blood pressure. This results to regular increase of heartbeat which in the end causes heart attack (Paoletti, 2000).

Regular drinking of alcohol causes liver cirrhosis. This causes damage in the liver. Alcohol makes life worse becomes one suffers depression and anxiety. It also causes hangovers in bases of feeling tired, banging headache, and nausea. Drinking alcohol regularly causes cancer of the mouth, throat, and neck. This is because alcohol contains some toxins that burn the mouth. Regular consumption of alcohol causes relationship problems. This is because the person tends to be antisocial and not willing to communicate with the people around them. The men are able to fulfill their spouse’s sexual desires (Kittleson, 2005).

People who drink alcohol regularly too much often tend to become overweight. Diabetes has great effect on the health of a person. It can reduce once lifespan because of the formation of fats in different parts of the body. Alcohol changes some of the liver parts into fat and damages some of the parts (Hemat & Ebrary, 2003). Repetitive heavy drinking constantly causes adverse effects because it damages the liver slowly by slowly, this later result to death because alcohol permanently damages the liver. Regular consumption of alcohol may also result to stroke. Conducted research in the United States of America showed that 6,000 men who consumed alcohol died of stroke. That means excessive consumption of alcohol can be very harmful to one’s health.

Many people who consume alcohol try to remember events that happened the previous night. This shows that heavy drinking and regular drinking can cause memory loss. It results in deficiency of vitamin B1 that is responsible for formation of the brain cells. Alcohol consumption causes inflammation of the pancreases. This causes pain below the ribs. Alcohol consumption is the second highest cause of pancreatitis. Pancreas is an organ that makes enzymes for digestion. Too much consumption of alcohol affects the immune system. This is because it deprives the body some of the immune boosting nutrients such as Vitamin A. Additionally; they make the white cells less able to fight and kill germs.

Alcohol consumption causes diabetes because drinking alcohol reduces the body sensitivity to insulin. That triggers the formation of diabetes (Hemat & Ebrary, 2003). More of the glucose in the body stays in the blood and is not absorbed in the body as a fuel for energy. Alcohol consumers develop low blood sugar levels in the body. This is referred to as hypoglycemia. The symptoms of these disorders include confusion, double vision, slurring words, and severe headache. This is because heavy drinking prevents the liver from glucose formation.

There are visible effects of regular consumption of alcohol. It becomes habitual, and one is unable to stop to consuming alcohol. It may result to bankruptcy because alcohol is expensive, and one needs much cash to continually consume alcohol. This result in neglect of the family and one may not be in a position to take care of his or her family. The physical symptoms include uncontrolled shaking of hands, convulsions, and tremors. People who consume alcohol regularly also suffer for hallucinations (Blocker, Fahey, & Tyrrell, 2003).

There is also profuse sweating even when it is cold. This is because of the high concentration of alcohol that causes high blood pressure. There is persistent insomnia in the body. When one attempts to withdraw immediately he or, she may die. Thus, it is important to withdraw consumption of alcohol slowly by slowly. There is also extreme agitation this makes one lose concentration even concerning important matters that require attention. Alcohol consumption affects different parts of the body as discussed below which may result to death as discussed below.

Cancer

Drinking too much alcohol can make one develop certain types of cancer which include breast, liver, mouth, esophagus, and throat. Research has shown that alcohol can cause seven types of cancer. One of them is the mouth cancer which is also referred to as oral cavity cancer. It is more common in men than in women mostly aged 50 years and over. The other type is the esophageal cancer it is also more common in men than women. Breast cancer is more common in women. It is mostly prominent in United Kingdom this is 100 women are diagnosed with breast cancer every day as a result of alcohol consumption. Alcohol mostly damages the liver resulting to cancer of the liver. This is because alcohol damages some of the liver cells in the body. Liver cirrhosis causes infections such as hepatitis B and C (Goldberg, 2010). In addition, people with diabetes are at a high risk of developing cancer.

Brain

Research has found out that alcohol interferes with the brain’s communication pathways. This is because it affects the way the works and looks. It affects the cells in the cerebrum. This may make it harder for one to think or come up with a solution in a situation. This makes it hard for the person to easily coordinate the activities which he or she does. The person also experiences blackouts and memory lapses. That is why the person experiences difficulty in walking, slurred speech, impaired memory, and blurred vision (Goldberg, 2010). At the first stages of drinking one experiences these effects when he or she drinks and when the alcohol concentration in the body reduces the person comes back to his or her normal condition. However, when the person consumes alcohol regularly there are permanent effects in the brain. It may eventually lead to permanent memory loss.

Heart

Drinking alcohol regularly, can damage the heart. The problems that are mostly caused by alcohol in the heart include cardiomyopathy that is the dropping off the heart muscles and stretching (Kelly et al., 2008). These are the muscles that are involved in the formation of the heart. Heart attacks some of the various parts of the coronary artery. Heart is an important organ in the body because it delivers oxygen to all the parts of the body. It also causes a disorder referred to as arrhythmias which cause irregular heartbeat. This causes high blood pressure because of the irregular heartbeat. It may later result to stroke later death.

Pancreas

Alcohol affects the pancreas and prevents it from functioning appropriately. If one consumes alcohol continuously, it may result to inflammation of the pancreas. This results in swelling of the blood vessels (Dasgupta, 2011). The symptoms of inflammation of the pancreas cause different symptoms which include rapid heart rate, nausea and vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and sweating. This prevents proper digestion in the body. There are two types of pancreatitis that are acute and chronic. Chronic pancreatitis is as a result of ongoing inflammation of the pancreas while acute occurs within a short period of time that later develops into chronic pancreatitis.

Conclusion

Consumption of alcohol has been the order of the day as the peers join the habit out of influence and social frustrations (Brian & Kate, 2001). .56 percent of the young people drinks more alcohol than the recommended amount which they should take (Brian & Kate, 2001). The situation has led to emergence of different groups of drinkers; the over drinkers, binge drinkers, light drinkers, and regular drinkers The habit of heavy drinking and binge drinking create more harm in the human body than any other form of alcohol consumption. The practice affects the socialization and health in the society leading to chronic diseases such as HIV, heart attack and mental disorders.

Alcohol consumption affects your mood and the status of the memory in longer term it may result to serious mental problems into the extremes of madness where one loss his or her memory. Binge drinking results to an anti-social behavior, violence, and aggressiveness. Over drinkers have the mental problem overtime because the habit causes brain damage, while pregnant women may have their babies affected? It is recommended that the maximum intake of alcohol for such women should be 14 units while for men it should be 21 units in a week.

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