Effects of Alcohol on Organs

Effects of Alcohol on Organs: One or two drinks per day have some beneficial effects on healthy and non-pregnant persons. At higher doses, alcohol is toxic to many organ systems. More than 80% of the population consumes alcohol in their lifetime, though many do not cross the limit, it is better to have knowledge of alcohol intoxication. The following details given below apply to all people regardless of gender, age, or race, but older persons carry greater risk. But it is also a fact that all alcoholics do not develop many of the adverse effects of alcohol.

Central Nervous System (CNS): Alcohol causes depression in the central nervous system, contrary to the belief that it causes stimulation. The stimulation may occur at a low blood level. Approximately 35% of alcoholics experience a blackout an episode of temporary amnesia or forgetfulness, in which they can not remember all or what occurred during drinking. Alcohol causes alteration in the sleep stage and they can not sleep deeply and they get fatigued. Alcohol causes relaxation of muscles of the pharynx and causes snoring and sleeps apnea which is breathing disturbance during sleep and is seen more commonly in old people abuse 60 years. Alcohol impacts judgment and coordination and they create lots of trouble. Peripheral neuropathy is seen in about 10% of alcoholics and alcoholics experience numbers of limbs, tingling, and parenthesis. Out 1% of alcoholics develop degeneration of brain & it becomes smaller in size.

Alcoholics manifest severe impairment of recent & remote memories for weeks to months. Almost every psychiatric problem can be seen temporarily in heavy drinking or during withdrawal. These include sadness lasting for days to weeks, and anxiety commonly seen during alcohol withdrawal. These are known as an alcohol-induced mood disorder. These may be auditory hallucinations or paranoid delusions in alcoholics.

Cancer: Drinking as low as 1.5 drinks per day increases the chance of breast cancer by about 1.5 told in women. Four drinks per day increase the risk of oral and esophageal cancer by three told and rectal cancer by twofold. Chances of other cancers also increase manyfold in alcoholics.

Liver: Alcohol causes the development of cirrhosis of the liver in up to 20% of alcoholics. There is no cure once cirrhosis develops. Alcohol induces the liver to produce less glucose and causes deficiency of glucose. The fat accumulator is more in the liver and there may be alcohol-induced hepatitis. The incidence of pancreas infection also increases.

Esophagus and stomach: Ault alcohol intake can cause inflammation, irritation ulceration of the esophagus, and stomach chronic alcohol intake may induce heavy vomiting and can cause tears in the fun chain of the stomach with the esophagus.

Blood: Alcohol causes an increase in red cell size and they find it difficult to cross capillaries. Heavy drinking causes deficiency in many nutrients like vitamins of white blood cells to fight against microbes.

Cardiovascular system: Consumption of three or more drinks per day results in dose-dependent weeks often abstinence. Heavy drinking causes cardiac (heart) muscle damage and can cause heart failure. After binge drinking during holidays, heart rate becomes irregular and high without any other evidence of heart disease is called “holiday heart”.

Moderate intake of one or two drinks per day causes a reduction in cardiovascular disease, but heavy drinking increases this. Mortality is lowest in persons who drink one drink per day.

Sexual Function: Alcohol intake (blood level of 100 mg/dl) can increase sexual drive but reduces performance and erectile capacity in men. Alcohol intake causes atrophy (reduced size) of testicles in men, reduce sperm count, and reduced ejaculatory volume.

In women, alcohol causes amenorrhea (lack of menstruation), a decrease in ovarian size, infertility, and spontaneous abortion. Heavy drinking during pregnancy can cause “fetal alcohol syndrome” that may cause facial change, small teeth, and poorly formed enamel in the baby.

Other Effects: Up to two-thirds of alcoholics have muscular weakness, that may improve but does not disappear with abstinence. Heavy drinking can cause reduced bone density, and increase the chance of fracture. Thyroid function becomes erratic in alcoholics.