What are the long-term effects of alcohol consumption?
Most people who drink alcohol are familiar with the short-term effects of alcohol poisoning. According to “Alcohol: Science, Policy, and Public Health” (Oxford University Press, 2013), a mild sense of euphoria and relaxation is one of the main reasons why humans have produced and consumed alcohol for thousands of years.
Similarly, most people are aware that excessive and long-term alcohol consumption can seriously affect their physical and mental health. But the impact will depend on how much you drink and how often you drink. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, moderate alcohol consumption in the US is limited to two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women (CDC). A drink refers to the equivalent of 0.6 ounces (14 grams) of pure alcohol. This amount can be found in a bottle of beer (5% alcohol), a small glass of wine (12% alcohol), or a cup of distilled spirits (40% alcohol).
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, heavy drinking is defined as more than 8 drinks per week for women and more than 15 drinks per week for men. This is different from binge drinking, which the CDC defines as drinking more than 5 drinks at once for men and more than 4 drinks at once for women.
What are the short-term effects of alcohol?
The short-term effects of drinking usually include mild euphoria and a relaxed state, which is caused by temporary changes in brain signals. Alcohol can interfere with neurotransmitters, these chemicals help to transmit information between brain neurons, resulting in changes in mood, behavior, and thinking.
The short-term effects of moderate alcohol consumption can range from skin redness and lack of concentration to more severe symptoms such as vomiting and fainting. Other effects of short-term alcohol consumption include loss of coordination, mood swings, increased blood pressure, dull vision, and reduced restraint.
Then there are the effects of alcohol withdrawal, commonly known as a hangover. Hangover symptoms usually begin within a few hours of a person’s last drink and can vary from person to person. These symptoms may include headaches, fatigue, nausea, and dehydration.
Alcohol suppresses the body’s production of vasopressin, a hormone that tells the body to retain water in the kidneys. Without this, water will go straight to the bladder and cause dehydration. Headaches are the brain’s response to this loss of fluid, while nausea and lack of energy are the body’s response to low blood sugar levels and the loss of minerals and electrolytes that help the body function normally.
The more a person drinks, the more likely they are to experience these effects, and the longer it may take for a person to recover. Hangover symptoms tend to disappear within 24 hours of a person’s last drink and do not cause persistent health problems.
What are the long-term effects of alcohol consumption?
Long-term alcohol consumption can affect many aspects of physical and mental health, and the main areas affected include the brain, digestive system, cardiovascular system, and musculoskeletal system.
Brain
There is a large body of scientific evidence that alcohol can affect the normal function of the brain, that is, it affects the levels of neurotransmitters (chemical messengers in the brain). You may notice that alcohol can cause severe mood swings, which is because alcohol interacts with GABA, a neurotransmitter that helps regulate mood and anxiety.
Alcohol can also act as a central nervous system inhibitor, which means it slows down communication between the brain and the body. This can lead to impaired coordination, slurred speech, delayed response, and fainting. Heavy drinking can also lead to other problems, such as sleep disorders. Long-term alcohol consumption may even cause changes in brain structure. This damage can lead to problems with memory, learning, and coordination, as well as an increase in anxiety [disorders] and depression.
Many of the changes in the brain occur at the molecular level. According to a 2021 review published in the journal Trends in Neurosciences, excessive alcohol consumption can disrupt gene expression in neurons, which is the process by which brain cells develop and connect with each other. The researchers say these adaptations may be key factors in causing alcohol use disorders.
Heart and blood vessels
Long-term alcohol consumption can also have an impact on heart and vascular health. According to a 2016 review published in the Journal of the American College of Cardiology, even small amounts of alcohol can make people prone to atrial fibrillation – a condition that causes irregular heart rhythms, dizziness, and shortness of breath.
How alcohol affects heart health may depend on the amount of alcohol consumed, but the evidence is far from decisive. According to a 2021 review published in the journal Nutrition, some studies suggest that low to moderate alcohol consumption may actually reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke. However, this is not well understood. A 2017 review published in the journal Alcohol Research suggests that low to moderate alcohol consumption may indirectly reduce atherosclerosis – the accumulation of fatty plaques within and on the walls of arteries – and inflammation, and relieve the impact of psychological stress on the cardiovascular system.
Certain compounds found in alcoholic beverages may also play a role. For example, polyphenols found in red wine can prevent atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, and heart failure, as reported in a 2016 review published in the journal Nutrition.
Digestive health
According to a 2021 review published in the journal Alcohol Research, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to liver damage and alcohol-related liver diseases. Alcohol can also affect other parts of the digestive system. A 2014 review in the World Journal of Gastroenterology found that drinking more than five cups of alcohol a day can damage the pancreas, esophagus, stomach, and intestines.
Long-term alcohol consumption may also lead to poor gut health. According to a 2021 review published in the journal International Journal of Molecular Sciences, excessive alcohol consumption may cause changes in the gut microbiome, reducing microbial diversity and leading to the overgrowth of pro-inflammatory bacteria, such as Proteus. These changes may lead to intestinal inflammation and leaky gut – a condition in which the intestinal wall becomes porous, allowing toxins and harmful pathogens to enter the bloodstream.
These changes can be harmful to our overall health. One of the most important functions of the gut microbiome is to ferment dietary fiber and produce anti-inflammatory molecules called short-chain fatty acids [SCFAs]. Short-chain fatty acids are essential for our immune health, mental health, and the reversal and prevention of chronic diseases including diabetes and cancer. Reducing alcohol consumption helps ensure that the microbiome can produce enough of these important molecules.
Immunity
Long-term alcohol consumption may also affect the immune system. According to a 2015 review published in the journal Alcohol Research, long-term heavy alcohol consumption may lead to a significant decrease in the number of white blood cells responsible for fighting infections and preventing cancer.
0
0
Average Rating