Physical Effects of Alcohol
Drinking too much, or for prolonged periods of time, can have detrimental effects on the mind and body, challenging the physical and psychological systems that keep us healthy and balanced.
The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), the federal agency that researches alcohol, details the physical effects of alcohol on their website. It lists parts of the body affected by alcohol—the brain, heart, liver, pancreas and immune system—and describes the negative effects alcohol has on the functioning of organs and systems. One night of drinking too much can disrupt the brain’s communication pathways, making it hard to think clearly and move with coordination; long-term drinking affects the way organs look and work. Drinking excessively for extended periods of time has also been linked to a variety of different cancers, and although these issues are typically unseen, the consequences of long-term alcohol abuse on our internal organs are well known and tragic.
The visible effects of long-term alcohol abuse aren’t pretty either. Alcohol bloats your face and stomach, and the smell of alcohol seeps through your pores. Internal processes, like inflammation and oxidation, cause the bloating and stench, and damage the exposed organs. By the time you’re at this point, it’s hard to stop drinking. Lack of alcohol makes your body hurt. Everything feels dry and acidic. You sweat and dry heave while your heart races, and the only thing that helps is more alcohol. This vicious cycle keeps alcoholics drinking, but if alcohol is a problem for you, help is out there.
Depending on how much and long a person drinks will impact how mild or severe the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal are, and what treatments are necessary. Long-term, heavy alcohol use changes a person’s brain chemistry and may require a medical detox. Alcohol is a depressant and according to Harvard Medical School, over time the brain compensates for this depressant effect by producing naturally stimulating chemicals in larger than normal quantities. If alcohol is suddenly withdrawn, a person can experience mental and physical symptoms, such as anxiety, insomnia, trembling and seizures. About 1 in 20 people experience the most dangerous form of alcohol withdrawal: delirium tremens (DTs), which is when the person’s brain chemistry is unable to readjust after the alcohol is stopped. Brain communication is disrupted and the body cannot regulate vital functions, increasing the risk or heart attack, stroke and death. If withdrawal symptoms are severe, like vomiting, seizures or DTs, treatment at the hospital may be required to monitor heart rate, blood pressure and breathing, but any alcohol withdrawal symptoms indicate a person has consumed enough alcohol to damage organs.
If you drink enough to experience the negative effects of alcohol and believe alcohol is a problem in your life, please reach out for help.
-Ariel Gale
Published March 15, 2021