Effects of Alcohol on the Body, Mind, and Mood

Alcohol affects every body system, so it can cause health problems throughout the body. Around 88,000 people in the U.S die from alcohol-related causes every year. Around 20 percent of alcohol is absorbed through the stomach. Most of the remaining 80 percent is absorbed through the small intestine. Around 5 percent of the alcohol consumed leaves through the lungs, kidneys and the skin. After 8 to 9 drinks, vision becomes blurred and the person is likely to feel nauseated.

The more a person drinks, the more likely they are to cause damage to their organs or cause the escalation of the disease. Your kidneys are responsible for filtering out toxins and other substances from your body, as well as maintaining a normal amount of water in your body. In women, alcohol can both increase and decrease arousal, and higher concentrations of alcohol may cause the impediment of lubrication production. Extended overuse may interfere with reproductive functions, menstruation, and hormone levels. Drinking while pregnant puts women at a higher risk for stillbirth, miscarriage, and the child having developmental disorders.

What Are the Psychological Effects of Alcohol?

Liver accumulates fat which can cause liver failure, coma and death. Because alcohol is a depressant, it can also contribute to mental health conditions, like anxiety and depression. Research indicates that heavy alcohol use can also increase the risk of suicide. Keep effects of alcohol on the body in mind that even moderate alcohol use isn’t risk-free. For example, even light drinkers have a tiny, but real, increased risk of some cancers, such as esophageal cancer. Any potential benefits of alcohol are relatively small and may not apply to all individuals.

• Over time, excessive drinking can lead to mental health problems, such as depression and anxiety.
• Alcohol can have a serious effect on the developing brain, from fetal development to the end of adolescence.
• With a blood alcohol content between 0.01 – 0.05, this is the first stage of intoxication.
• You may not look like you have been drinking, but your reaction time, behavior and judgment may be slightly altered.
• For more information about alcohol and cancer, please visit the National Cancer Institute’s webpage “Alcohol and Cancer Risk” .

Heavy or chronic drinking occurs over an extended period of time. For women, this is more than three drinks per day or seven drinks per week. For men, it is more than four drinks per day or 14 drinks per week. Those who drink moderately, one or two drinks per day, can have a higher risk for breast cancer. The impaired judgment you have when drinking alcohol may cause you to think that you can still drive, regardless of your BAC.

What Parts of the Body Does Alcohol Affect?

These effects depend on how much a person drinks and their age, weight, genetic history, etc. The contents of this website are for educational purposes and are not intended to offer personal medical advice. You should seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website. The Nutrition Source does not recommend or endorse any products. To fully understand alcohol use, it’s important to acknowledge the meaning of a standard drink. When people don’t realize the amount of alcohol in one standard drink, they may underestimate how much they are drinking.

This adds strong indirect evidence that alcohol itself reduces heart disease risk. The first step in alcohol addiction treatment is medical detoxification. Alcohol withdrawal can have life-threatening symptoms and should always occur under medical supervision. Once a person has successfully detoxed from alcohol, they can begin formal addiction treatment. People who use alcohol may also experience symptoms of withdrawal. If a person is dependent on alcohol and stops drinking for a period of time, their body may begin to enter a state of withdrawal.

Myths About Drinking

If left untreated, these conditions could potentially be fatal. Chronic ethanol abuse can also cause pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas, often resulting in severe damage to this vital organ. Healthy OilsUse healthy oils for cooking, on salad, and at the table. Limit milk/dairy (1-2 servings/day) and juice (1 small glass/day). WATERVegetablesThe more veggies — and the greater the variety — the better. VEGETABLESFruitsEat plenty of fruits of all colors FRUITSHealthy ProteinChoose fish, poultry, beans, and nuts; limit red meat and cheese; avoid bacon, cold cuts, and other processed meats. HEALTHYPROTEINWhole GrainsEat a variety of whole grains (like whole-wheat bread, whole-grain pasta, and brown rice).