Contributed Collaborative Post
Alcohol is a part of most of our lives. But it wasn’t always that way. The substance is actually a relatively new invention, only emerging in the past few thousand years with the invention of farming.
As such, our bodies aren’t as adapted to it as we might like. While we can process it, there are health costs.
Because of the French paradox, people used to believe that moderate alcohol consumption was healthy. Despite drinking a glass of wine every night with cheese, people living in France seemed to have lower overall cardiovascular mortality.
However, that theory was later debunked when researchers went back and looked at the evidence. It turned out that many French doctors had been recording the cause of death as “old age,” a tradition in the country. As such, they weren’t factoring in the number of people dying from heart disease, making it appear as if wine was healthy.
The purpose of this post is to run through some of the effects that alcohol can have on the body. While most people can get away with drinking perhaps a glass of wine every week, daily or mid-week consumption isn’t always a good idea.
Problems With The Central Nervous System
Issues with alcohol start with the central nervous system. Researchers now know that it can alter neurotransmitter levels, preventing the production of valuable chemical messengers, like GABA. These, in turn, can reduce judgement and slow reaction times (hence why you shouldn’t drive after consuming alcohol!)
Unfortunately, these effects can be longer-lasting with repeated alcohol exposure. The more drinking you do across a lifetime, the larger the effect on the CNS. Eventually, with addictions, you can get to the point where simply, daily tasks become much more challenging.
Liver Damage
Another well-known long-term effect is liver damage. Alcohol attacks this large organ in several ways.
The most immediate is the creation of the so-called “fatty liver.” This occurs when the sugar in alcohol turns to fat and begins to engorge liver cells. The liver organ can swell to several times its original size (sometimes causing it to protrude through the stomach).
This process impairs the ability of the organ to do its job. When cells contain too much fat, it prevents them from processing toxins as well, and it can lead to metabolic problems.
In some cases, the result is inflammation of the liver, something doctors and medics call “alcoholic hepatitis.” This condition starts mild but progresses to cirrhosis if left without treatment. Eventually, the scarring can be so bad that the liver can’t function anymore.
Fortunately, though, the liver is one of the most robust organs in the body. Therefore, it can return to health if you stop drinking alcohol and switch to a better diet. Services, like Addictions UK, can help with this.
Cancer Risk
Another downside of alcohol consumption appears to be the cancer risk. People who drink seem to be at greater risk of cancers in parts of the body that come into contact with alcohol.
For example, lifelong drinkers are more likely to develop cancer of the mouth, oesophagus and liver because of the effect that contact with alcohol can have on DNA and other parts of the cell. There’s also a colon cancer risk, and breast cancer in women.
Cognitive Decline
As mentioned, alcohol can also lead to cognitive decline. While the occasional drinking session won’t have a noticeable effect on cognition, multiple sessions might.
Alcohol, for example, can cause the brain to shrink. And when this happens, it can lead to memory loss and trouble learning new skills.
Ironically, it can also make it more challenging to kick an alcohol habit. The more drinking that happens, the less able the brain is to mount a defence and change its habits for the better.
Mental Health Disorders
There’s also an association between using a lot of alcohol and developing mental health disorders. Continued usage can lead to all sorts of problems, including depression and anxiety. (It’s hard to feel good when you have a permanent hangover).
However, the relationship is two-way, which is why alcohol can be so dangerous to people. That is, those with pre-existing mental health issues are also more likely to choose alcohol, leading to a vicious cycle.
Mental health disorders can develop slowly or rapidly, depending on your propensity to develop them. Some people can drink moderately for years with no issues, while others can start experiencing problems within days, especially if they had a drinking habit before.
Individual responses to alcohol mainly vary because of genetics. Some people can tolerate it well while others may be unable to process even small amounts. However, even if you consider yourself a robust drinker, that doesn’t necessarily mean you will avoid the negative effects.
Heart Problems
Alcohol consumption can also lead to various heart and cardiovascular issues. People with a drinking habit are more likely to develop complications than those eating a normal, regular diet.
All sorts of heart health problems can develop over time. For example, heavy drinking can lead to high blood pressure, the number one killer globally. People who drink can see their blood pressure exceed 140/100 because of their drinking habits combined with other lifestyle factors.
Unfortunately, high blood pressure can lead to follow-on complications, including heart attacks and strokes. High blood pressure increases the risk of a blood vessel bursting, denying parts of the body the oxygen and nutrients they need to survive.
Some people who drink regularly also develop a condition called cardiomyopathy. This condition weakens the heart muscle, making it less able to pump blood around the body. Therefore, many people living with alcoholism often find themselves out of breath and unable to do the things they want to do.
Reduced Sleep
Unfortunately, alcohol can also negatively affect sleep, which is ironic, considering many people use the substance to help them drift off at night.
Alcohol appears to make people drowsy, but it prevents them from getting into the deepest stages of sleep (like REM). As such, it lowers sleep quality and prevents the brain from recovering from the day before. Over time, people who drink can feel increasingly tired and unable to get done everything they want to do in a day.
Daytime fatigue is a significant problem. It can be challenging for many of these individuals to concentrate at work and focus on the task at hand. It is especially dangerous for people in manual work using equipment, on construction sites, or driving lorries.
Worse Gut Health
There’s even evidence that alcohol consumption worsens gut health. Many people develop so-called “dysbiosis” where the bacteria in the gut don’t match a healthy profile (which may be one of the reasons alcohol consumption increases cancer risk).
The most common outcome is a syndrome called “leaky gut,” where the lining of the gut becomes damaged and can’t recover. Bacteria and toxins begin seeping into the bloodstream, provoking chronic inflammation and IBS.
Digestion can also be an issue. People who drink a lot can find it challenging to go to the toilet, and when they do, it can be explosive. Gas may also be an issue if the small intestine can’t break down food molecules before they reach the colon.
In summary, alcohol consumption has various unwanted effects on the body. But the good news is that almost all of them are reversible when the drinking stops. Furthermore, there’s more help available than ever before for people who want to quit. Better understanding and medical care means that going tee-total is no longer a pipe dream.
This is a contributed collaborative post
