The Long Term Effects of Alcohol on the Brain and the Body

The long term effects of alcohol can be devastating.

Cancer, brittle bones, stomach issues and dementia: Take your pick.

Alcohol can take a very serious toll on your health. It is a drug, after all.

it affects your liver, your brain as well as your heart, immune system, pancreas, lungs and gut.

Contrary to popular misconception, your health can be damaged even if you drink small amounts, intermittently.

Neurological System

Alcohol works on receptors on your brain.

People drink to feel euphoric and relaxed and by having an effect on receptors, altered chemical messaging occurs.

Long Term Effects of Alcohol

If you keep drinking for a period of time, your brain actually adjusts to the presence of alcohol and works in a different way than for someone who doesn’t drink.

Your mood will drop and your behaviour will change. Thinking clearly can become challenging and your coordination can suffer. Stroke is a real risk.

Alcohol also affects your nervous system, which includes your spinal cord.

A common feature of alcohol damage to the body is peripheral neuropathy. This can lead to very severe numbness in your legs and arms as well as a constant burning feeling in your feet.

Long Term Effects of Alcohol

Alcohol related nerve damage can also cause problems with your heart leading to an irregular beat as well as a drop in blood pressure when you stand up.

Erectile problems in men and chronic diarrhea for both sexes is also very common.

Endocrine System

Your endocrine system controls hormone levels in the body.

Alcohol dependency will have an adverse effect on your endocrine system and lead to chronic conditions such as thyroid disease and abnormal cholesterol levels.

Reproductive health, diabetes and poor stress management are also very common. Children who become alcohol dependent can experience a delay in puberty.

Alcohol can not only cause diabetes, but can also cause a serious deterioration in disease management.

Gastrointestinal System

Alcohol can increase the risk of stomach cancer due to the release of toxins from the gut.

Gastroesophageal reflux is also a common result of alcohol dependency as well as a cause of oral cancer.

Heart and Circulatory System

Alcohol can damage your heart.

In time, alcohol can weaken the heart muscles leading to cardiomyopathy (enlarged heart) as well as dangerously high blood pressure as well as irregular heart beats.

Long Term Effects of Alcohol

Long term heavy drinking can significantly raise the risk of heart disease and heart attacks.

Low red blood cell levels are common with alcohol dependency and can lead to chronic disease such as anemia.

Immune System

When someone is alcohol dependent, the immune system suffers making it much more likely that you catch colds, flu and other diseases.

Sports injuries take far longer to heal and organ damage is common.

When people drink they tend to lower their guard when it comes to risky sexual encounters.

Long Term Effects of Alcohol

HIV, Hep B and other avoidable illnesses are more commonly found in those who drink.

Liver

Alcohol related liver disease is serious.

Just as with paracetamol, there is a limit on how much alcohol the liver can process at any one time.

There is a long list of alcohol related liver conditions, the most well known being cirrhosis.

Long Term Effects of Alcohol

If you stop early enough, the liver can, usually, sort itself out. Carry on and the damage becomes permanent.

Lungs

Alcohol dependency means an increased risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome.

Bacterial pneumonia and other viral infections in the lungs are very common with alcohol dependency.

You are also much more likely to suffer from tuberculosis if you are alcohol dependent.

Musculoskeletal System

When you drink, you increase the risk of muscle wastage.

If you break a bone when alcohol dependent your recovery time will be considerably longer.

Gout is common with alcohol addiction. A very painful problem.

Pancreas

The human body relies on the pancreas to generate naturally occurring chemicals that aid metabolism and digestion.

Alcohol can inflame the pancreas leading to pancreatitis. This is when the digestive enzymes are affected. Hormones and blood sugar levels can also be effected.

Pancreatitis is a serious condition as well as be extremely painful.

Long Term Effects of Alcohol

Sometimes it can be temporary but can also lead to a chronic condition which can increase the chances of cancer and diabetes.

Cancer

There is very extensive research that shows a definitive link between alcohol addiction and cancer.

Sadly, alcohol is not restricted to one form of cancer, but can cause multiple different types from head and neck to colorectal.

While liver cancer is the most known about, alcohol is also associated with breast cancer and esophageal cancer.

Long Term Effects of Alcohol

Dementia

Alcohol contains glucose.

Over time, the glucose in the alcohol will affect the absorption of vitamin B.

Vitamin B is essential to the normal functioning of the brain. Without sufficient levels, the brain becomes damaged.

If caught early enough, it can be reversed with vitamin B replacement (injections or tablets, depending on severity).

Left untreated it becomes permanent.

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