Alcohol and the Body Looking at some of the effects of long term drinking on the body.

Heart Raises blood pressure, blood fats and the risk of stroke and heart disease in heavy drinkers. Heart disease is generally lower in light to moderate drinkers.

Central Nervous System Chronic drinking can lead to dependence and addiction to alcohol and to additional neurological problems. Typical symptoms of withholding alcohol from someone who is addicted to it are shaking (tremors), sleep problems and nausea. More severe withdrawal symptoms include hallucinations and even seizures.

Liver

Kidney Drinking alcohol can cause the kidneys to increase urinary output. This can lead to dehydration. It can also impair fluid handling and may cause acute kidney failure Enlarges the kidneys, alters hormone functions

Beer Belly Beer Gut is the storing of excess calories in the abdomen creating excess fat around the organs.

Oral Irritation to the mouth and esophagus can lead to various forms of cancer in the mouth.

Osteoporosis Alcohol interferes with the body’s ability to absorb calcium, resulting in bones being weak, soft, brittle and thinner (Osteoporosis).

Sexual functioning can be impaired and cause impotence and infertility, that is sometimes irreversible. Females also have a high risk of developing breast cancer. In men it may lead to sterility, shrinking of the testis and breast tissue growth

Blood System Alcohol in the blood stream interferers with absorption and can cause anemia (low iron)

Nose The increased blood flow rushing to the surface causes capillaries to burst creating spiderlike lines in the face and nose

Review

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