Effects of Alcohol in the Body
Tuesday, November 24th, 2009Alcohol has many devastating effects on and in the body. It can age a person; some people do not realize that, but a woman who drinks excessively often has the appearance of a woman several years older and the same happens to men who consume too much alcohol.
Alcohol addiction can permanently damage the body, leading to death. It causes different types of stomach and organ problems such as cancer of the esophagus and liver as well as cirrhosis. It can cause high blood pressure and lead to circulatory and heart problems.
Binge drinking can cause alcohol poisoning and death. This can also cause blurred vision and paranoia. It can cause a person to not think coherently, therefore leading to behavior that can be detrimental such as unprotected sex leading to STD, HIV and AIDS. It can also cause a person to drink and drive, putting himself and others on the road at risk for accidents, injuries and fatalities.
Alcohol is extremely harmful to unborn children. Fetal alcohol syndrome is a reality that unfortunately, too many children have dealt with. If a miscarriage or death does not happen soon after delivery, the child may very well go through life with birth defects he would not otherwise have had if his mother had not consumed alcohol while pregnant with him. Fetal alcohol syndrome can cause physical, mental and behavioral problems in children, ranging from cleft palates, to poor motor skills to learning disabilities.
Alcohol can also cause a type of diabetes called secondary diabetes. This type of diabetes can be controlled if the person stops drinking altogether since it is not a genetically caused form of diabetes. A doctor can help someone with secondary diabetes to get on a good nutritional path to correct the situation.
Excessive Alcohol consumption at any given time can cause a person to fall into a coma or can lead directly to death. This happens more with teenagers and young people who are not aware of the true dangers of alcohol. It can also lead to memory loss and blackouts.
The effects of alcohol on the body are real. Unfortunately, most of the time it is not irreversible but if a person gets help, the damage can be controlled and a healthier, more positive lifestyle can begin.
