Here is information about the alcohol consumption and its health effects on the human body
Effects Of Alcohol On The Body
The consumption of alcohol has increased extensively over the recent years, especially with the advent of social drinking practices and the elements of peer pressure, eventually leading to an increase in the intake of alcohol. However, drinking heavily over a long period of time can result in serious health problems, both mental disorders and physical illnesses. Alcohol misuse not only harms the individual but also poses a threat on society in terms of violence and crime, accidents and drunken driving. It also has a negative effect on relationships, which can lead to abusiveness, both verbal and physical. Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, can cause mood disorders, chronic depression, violent behavior and even heart diseases. The effects of alcohol on the body mainly depend on the concentration of alcohol in the blood stream. The main content in alcoholic drinks is nothing but ethyl alcohol. In Latin, there is a term called "Invinoveritus" which means "in wine there is truth" i.e. only after drinking we can see the original character of a person. If consumed in excessive quantities, it can lead to various health ailments. There are serious health hazards that arise from the consumption of alcohol. Continue reading.
Some Myths About Drinking
- Everybody drinks.
- When things go wrong, drinking will act as a remedy.
- Drinking is the best way to celebrate or party.
- Alcohol is less dangerous than other drugs.
- If a child is let free to drink at home, he or she is less likely to get into trouble outside home.
- Everyone reacts to alcohol in the same manner.
- Beer is less intoxicating when compared to other types of alcoholic beverages.
- Alcohol improves sexual performance.
Fun Facts About Alcohol
- It takes nearly just an hour for each drink to be used by the body.
- ‘Toast’, meaning a wish of good health, originated in ancient Rome, where a piece of toasted bread was dropped into wine.
- A ‘tequini’ is a martini made with tequila instead of dry gin.
- Until the 1850s, beer was sold in cans and not bottles.
- ‘Dipsomania’ refers to an abnormal or insatiable craving for alcohol.
Effects Of Alcohol On The Body
- High levels of alcohol in the blood can result in coma/death, gastro-intestinal irritation, resulting in ulcers, erosion of lining and pancreatic irritations.
- Alcohol impairs the memory, reasoning, and judgment abilities.
- It adversely affects the body, switching to fat metabolism and finally results in scarring of the liver.
- It also results in temporary increase in heartbeat and blood pressure, which in the long run can lead to cardiovascular diseases.
- It helps the water to shift within the body, making you thirsty. The diuretic effect increases urine output, which also leads to quicker dehydration.
- Alcohol reduces a person's sensitivity to taste and odor.
- Moreover, it also reduces the Peripheral sight and limits the abilities to distinguish light intensity; it also decreases sensitivity to colors, especially red.
- It impairs the ability to coordinate with moving objects.
- Alcohol affects accuracy and consistency of a task.
- With high doses of alcohol, significant memory loss occurs which may develop into blackouts involving amnesia.
- It creates difficulties in processing and recalling information.
- Large doses of alcohol can also disturb the sex life of a person, decreasing libido and can cause erectile dysfunction.
- Several drinks decrease rapid eye movement which results in increased anxiety, tiredness, and irritability. It can also lead to violent behavior.
- Long term alcohol consumption can damage brain cells and alter neurons, shrinking the size of brain cells.
- Alcohol can cause a wide range of psychosocial impairments and also increase the risk of suicide related deaths.
- It can have a huge impact on weight, since it contains empty calories.
- Heavy drinking can cause anemia and other related disorders like fatigue, shortness of breath.
- Regular drinkers of alcohol are more pose a great risk of acquiring cancer in the future.
- Regular binge drinking leads to high sugar levels, blood clots that eventually leads to cardiovascular problems.
Alcohol is slow poison and it can have serious long term consequences and health hazards that are irreversible. Consuming large quantities of alcohol on a regular basis will result in diseases like cardiovascular diseases, cancer, chronic pancreatitis, alcoholic liver disease and nervous system disorders. Sadly, the incidence of alcohol related deaths are increasing at a rapid pace off-late. It is important to control the consumption of alcohol and choose healthier alternatives like delicious mocktails and other fruit based drinks that offer nutritional value.
