Alcohol use: Weighing risks and benefits

negative consequences of drinking alcohol

The liver metabolizes most of the alcohol you consume, breaking it down into acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is a toxin that can damage the body’s organs and tissues before it is further broken down into acetate. Years of moderate to heavy drinking can cause liver scarring (fibrosis), increasing the risk https://ecosoberhouse.com/ of liver diseases like cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis, fatty liver disease, and liver cancer.

negative consequences of drinking alcohol

Associated Data

negative consequences of drinking alcohol

This information is based on the assumption that you have a normal tolerance to alcohol. Men initiated regular drinking on average two years earlier than women (19.5 years for men and 21.5 years for women), and a significantly higher proportion of men reported EDI and frequent drinking compared with women (Table 2). A simple random sampling approach was used to obtain a survey sample representative of the population of the regions represented.

negative consequences of drinking alcohol

Psychological Effects of Alcohol

negative consequences of drinking alcohol

There’s now a better understanding of the link between drinking and some illnesses, consequences of drinking including a range of cancers. The number of units in a drink is based on the size of the drink and its alcohol strength. This amount of alcohol will begin to reach toxic (poisonous) levels.

negative consequences of drinking alcohol

Impact on your brain

Alcohol use can cause sexual dysfunction, such as difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection and decreased sexual sensations. The impact alcohol has on the reproductive system extends beyond these temporary effects. Chronic alcohol use causes hormone imbalances in both men and women and leads to problems with fertility.

Short-term and long-term effects of alcohol can negatively impact the mind and body, despite any potential benefits. Alcohol poisoning occurs when the body has consumed more alcohol in a short period of time than it can process. The toxic effects of alcohol overwhelm the body and can lead to impairment and some even more serious medical side effects, including death in severe cases. The risk of developing cancer increases substantially the more alcohol is consumed.

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