Alcohol effects Archives - HealthTips202.Com

Regular alcohol consumption is known to cause major health problems. Experts in the field of medicine have linked more than 60 medical conditions to alcohol consumption. It has a huge negative impact on many organs of the human body.

Here is a brief overview of harmful alcohol effects.

According to Jurgen Rehm, PhD, alcohol consumption increases the risk of cancer. Human body converts alcohol into acetaldehyde, a potent carcinogen. People who consume alcohol regularly are more likely to be affected by the cancers of the esophagus, pharynx, breast, colon, mouth, larynx and liver.

Red blood cells play a major role in oxygen transportation throughout the body. Alcohol reduces the RBC (red blood cell count) in the human body, there causing a medical condition known as anemia. Anemia is known to cause symptoms like lightheadedness, fatigue and shortness of breath.

Binge drinking may cause heart attack or stroke. This is due to the clumping together of the platelets thereby forming blood clots. As per a study conducted by scientists at the Harvard, binge drinking doubled the risk of death among people who would have survived heart attack.

Excessive consumption of alcohol causes cardiomyopathy, a medical condition characterized by weakening of the heart muscles and their subsequent failure. It also causes heart rhythm abnormalities like ventricular and atrial fibrillation. While atrial fibrillation causes stroke, ventricular fibrillation is known to cause death.

Alcohol causes extensive damage to the liver. Cirrhosis is very common among regular alcohol consumers. Women are more vulnerable to this medical condition, in which the liver is so heavily scarred that it cannot function normally.

It is natural for the brain to shrink as a human being ages. Excessive consumption of alcohol expedites this process. People consuming alcohol display symptoms of dementia like memory loss. Studies have shown that heavy drinking affects the ability to plan, solve problems and make judgments.

Excessive consumption of alcohol is linked to depression. People who have successfully overcome alcohol dependence have reported improvement in depression. While some people argue that depressed people become alcoholics, a study conducted inNew Zealandhas proved that it is the other way round.

Excessive consumption of alcohol is known to cause epilepsy. It can also trigger seizures in people who do not have epilepsy. Alcohol consumption interferes with the action of the medication used in treatment of convulsions.

Regular alcohol consumption is found to aggravate gout symptoms. It disrupts the sympathetic nervous system. Sympathetic nervous system controls the constriction and dilation of blood vessels in response to exertion, stress, etc.

Binge drinking increases blood pressure. High blood pressure causes many harmful medical conditions like stroke, kidney diseases and cardiovascular diseases. Excessive consumption of alcohol weakens the immune system, thereby making the human body susceptible to many diseases.

Excessive consumption of alcohol causes alcoholic neuropathy, a medical condition the produces pins-and-needles feeling or numbness. It also weakens the muscles, causes erectile dysfunction and other problems.

Alcohol consumption causes gastritis and inflames the pancreas. This affects the normal functioning of the digestive system. People consuming alcohol suffer from abdominal pain and diarrhea.

With so many adverse effects of alcohol consumption, it definitely makes sense to refrain from this useless habit.