The Health and Behavioral Effects of Alcohol Abuse
There are short-term and long-term effects of abusing alcohol. Do you know what they are? Let us take a look.
Short-Term
The short-term abuse of alcohol can show itself in a number of ways. What happens to you when you drink alcohol in the short-term is related to how much you drink at any one time. The more you consume at once, the more severe your symptoms will be.
The short-term effects include:
-Dizziness
-Slurred speech
-Blurred vision (and in some cases seeing double)
-Impaired judgment and loss of inhibition (which can lead to risky and dangerous behavior)
-Unconsciousness
-Movements that are unbalanced and uncoordinated
-Concentration problems
-Increased reaction time
In the worst case scenario, the short-term effects of “tying too many on” with your buddies can lead to a person slipping into a comatose state and then dying.
Long-Term
The long-term abuse of alcohol can cause serious health problems. Overconsumption of alcohol over a long period of time can systematically destroy every organ in the body.
Some of the many long-term effects include:
Central Nervous System (Brain and Spinal Cord)
-impaired senses
-impaired motor skills
-hallucinations
-blackouts
-tingling and loss of sensations in hands and feet
-early onset dementia
-Wernicke’s Syndrome and psychosis
Circulatory System
-high blood pressure
-weakening of the heart muscle
-irregular heartbeat
-increased risk of heart attack or stroke
Liver
-inflamed and swollen
-liver failure
-cirrhosis
-fluid buildup (edema)
Gastrointestinal System
-inflamed stomach lining
-ulcers of the stomach and duodenum
-varicose veins and/or inflammation of the esophagus
-lack of appetite
-nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
-cancer
Reproductive System
-reduced fertility
-decreased sperm count
-impotence
-irregular menstrual cycles
-increased risk of breast cancer
-early onset of menopause
The long-term abuse of alcohol can damage the pancreas and the intestines. Pregnant women can give birth to babies who have fetal alcohol syndrome. The baby can be born with an unusually small head and can have brain damage. The infant can suffer from retarded growth and development in many areas of his or her life.
As far as the general overall state of the body is concerned, abusing alcohol can cause a person to put on weight, experience a lot of headaches and suffer from weakness in the muscles.
