Alcohol

Effects on the Brain and central nervous system

Impaired behavior, judgment, memory, concentration and coordination.

• Drinker experiences mild euphoria and loss of inhibition as alcohol impairs regions of the brain controlling behavior and emotion. Alcohol impairs judgment, memory, concentration and coordination; as well as inducing extreme mood swings and emotional outbursts.

Brain damage and affect

• Alcohol acts as a sedative on the central nervous system, depressing the nerve cells in the brain, dulling, altering and their ability to respond. Large doses cause sleep, anesthesia, respiratory failure, coma and death.

Brain disorders and addiction

• Long term drinking may result in permanent brain damage, serious mental disorders and addiction to alcohol.

Lungs

• High amounts of alcohol may cause breathing to stop; then death.
• Lowered resistance to infection.

Liver

• Chronic heavy drinking may cause alcohol hepatitis (inflammation and destruction of liver cells) and then cirrhosis (irreversible lesions, scaring and destruction of liver cells). Impairs the liver’s ability to remove yellow pigment and skin appears yellow (Jaundice).
• Liver damage causes fluid to in extremities (Edema)
• Decreases production of blood-clotting factors; may cause uncontrolled bleeding.
• Liver accumulates fat which can cause liver failure, coma and death.

Reproductive system

Males and Females

• Sexual functions can be impaired and deteriorate, resulting in impotence and infertility, sometimes irreversible. Females also have high risk of developing breast cancer.

Pregnancy and unborn babies

• Drinking during pregnancy significantly increases chance of delivering a baby with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome; small head, possible brain damage, abnormal facial features, poor muscle tone, speech and sleep disorders and retarded growth and development.

Other affects on central nervous system

• Impaired visual ability
• Unclear hearing
• Dulled smell and taste
• Loss of pain perception
• Altered sense of time and space
• Impaired fine motor skills
• Slows reactions
• Impaired sexual performance

Eyes

• Distorted vision and ability to adjust to lights. Pinpoint pupils and red eyes.

Ears

• Diminishes ability to distinguish between sounds and perceive their direction.

Mouth

• Slurred speech. Dulls taste and smell, reducing desire to eat.

Throat

• Irritation and damage of lining of esophagus, induces severe vomiting, hemorrhaging, pain and difficulty swallowing. Cancer.

Heart

• Weakens the heart muscle and ability to pump (Cardiomyopathy).
• Heart enlargement, abnormal heart signs and irregular heart beat.
• Increases blood pressure, risk of heart attack and strokes.
• Inhibits production of white and red blood cells.

Muscles

• Muscles become weaker and atrophy, pain, spasms and tenderness.

Stomach

• Irritation of stomach lining, peptic ulcers, inflammation, bleeding lesions and cancer.

Pancreas

• Significant risk of pancreatitis, a chronic inflammation of pancreas.

Intestines

• Irritation of the lining of the intestinal track and colon. Chronic drinking may result in inflammation, ulcers and cancer of the intestines and colon.
• Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, sweating and loss of appetite are common.
• Alcohol impairs small intestines ability to process nutrients and vitamins.

Bones

• Alcohol interferes with body’s ability to absorb calcium resulting in bones being weak, soft, brittle and thinner (osteoporosis).