The harms of alcohol include many negative situations resulting from its damaging effects on almost every organ of the body. Alcohol, which is known to have many short-term and long-term harms, can cause irreversible organ damage, especially when used in excessive amounts and for a long time. In addition to the direct harms it causes to the body, it can also indirectly pave the way for many health problems, especially due to its weakening effects on the immune system. Let's answer the questions "What are the harms of alcohol?" and "What are the diseases caused by alcohol?" in detail. Here is what you need to know about the negative effects of alcohol use on the body...
Why Is Alcohol Harmful?
Alcohol, which has no positive effects on the body, is a substance known for its harmful effects and should be avoided. Although its effects on the body are not felt immediately, the health damage caused by alcohol can actually begin with the first sip. However, there is no safe amount of alcohol to consume. Even small amounts are considered harmful to health. Although the safe thing to do is not to drink alcohol, the smaller the amount of alcohol consumed, the less the increase in health risks will be.
What are the Harms of Alcohol?
The harms of alcohol, which negatively affects the body through many different mechanisms, are much greater than thought. The most obvious of these are:
Increased Risk of Accidents and Injuries
Alcohol use can lead to accidental injury, traffic accident, harming oneself or another person under the influence of alcohol. Such situations can lead to unexpected and serious health problems.
Use During Pregnancy May Cause Various Problems
Alcohol consumption during pregnancy is very harmful to both the mother and the baby. Alcohol consumption by pregnant women or those who may be pregnant can cause low birth weight, central nervous system problems, abnormal facial features, growth and developmental problems, intelligence and behavioral problems, and various birth defects in the baby.
It May Bring About Blood Sugar Problems in Diabetic Patients
Excessive alcohol consumption in diabetic patients can cause problems such as low blood sugar (hypoglycemia), high blood sugar (hyperglycemia), ketoacidosis and hypertriglyceridemia.
Increases the Chances of Liver Damage
The liver is responsible for neutralizing alcohol and other toxic substances consumed. Therefore, the liver is one of the main organs that is negatively affected by alcohol consumption. There are many types of diseases that can occur as a result of alcohol damage to the liver, such as fatty liver, liver cirrhosis, and hepatitis. Therefore, alcohol should be avoided for liver health.
It May Increase the Chances of Getting Some Types of Cancer
Alcohol consumption is considered a risk factor for cancers of the mouth, throat, breast, colon and lung. The mouth and throat area in particular are at primary risk of developing cancer because of their vulnerable exposure to alcohol.
May Harm Brain, Nervous System and Mental Health
Excessive alcohol consumption can pose significant risks to the brain, nervous system and mental health. Ethyl alcohol causes drunkenness by reducing communication between brain cells. In addition to this short-term effect, long-term effects can include memory loss, dementia, brain shrinkage, permanent dysfunctions related to the brain and nervous system, depression and anxiety.
May Increase Obesity Risk
Alcohol is the second richest energy source after fat, and 1 ml provides the body with approximately 7 kcal of energy. Therefore, excessive alcohol consumption results in excess energy being stored as fat in the body. Long-term alcohol use can directly increase the risk of obesity.
May Negatively Affect Heart Health
Regularly drinking large amounts of alcohol is directly related to high blood pressure (hypertension). Continuous high blood pressure can have a negative effect on heart health. The damage alcohol causes to the heart includes straining the heart muscle, increasing the risk of heart attack and stroke, and increasing the tendency to various cardiovascular diseases.
Which Organs Does Alcohol Damage?
The damages of drinking alcohol can be seen in the body in many different ways in the long term. Organ damage is one of them. The organs that may be damaged in the body, especially due to regular high amounts of alcohol consumption, can be listed as follows:
- Liver,
- Brain,
- Heart and vascular network,
- Stomach and other organs of the digestive system,
- Reproductive organs,
- Kidneys.
What are the Harms of Alcohol to the Skin and Body?
The damage caused by alcohol to the body is not only evident in the internal organs but also on the skin that covers the outer surface of the body. In general, the damage caused by alcohol to the skin can be examined in two different categories: short-term and long-term damage.
Short-term negative effects include dry skin due to dehydration, loss of skin elasticity, and dry lips. These effects are mainly due to the diuretic effect of alcohol and also due to forgetting to drink water while drinking alcohol. However, as a result of alcohol causing sleep disturbances, effects such as dark circles under the eyes, a paler complexion, and more wrinkles can be seen. In addition to these short-term effects, long-term effects resulting from intensive and regular use include:
- Increased risk of skin infection,
- Increased risk of injury and consequently increased risk of infection and scarring,
- Increased risk of skin cancer due to weakening of the immune system,
- Problems such as jaundice, dark eye circles, visible blood vessels on the skin surface, itching on the skin, which may occur in cases where alcohol causes diseases such as hepatitis and cirrhosis,
- Increased risk of developing certain diseases such as rosacea, psoriasis, seborrheic dermatitis or eczema,
- Skin problems that may develop due to vitamin and mineral deficiencies.
What are the Effects of Alcohol on the Immune System?
One of the most prominent medical harms of alcohol is its negative effects on the immune system. When the human body encounters a foreign pathogen such as bacteria or viruses, it creates a reaction called the immune response to destroy it. The success of this response given by the immune system is created by immune cells and is directly proportional to how healthy the defense system is. Alcohol consumption, on the other hand, damages these immune cells that are responsible for the immune system, making the body's defense system weaker. Therefore, disease-causing external agents can enter the body more easily and cause infection more quickly without being caught by the immune response. Since it will be difficult to clean these pathogens from the body, the infections experienced may be more severe and long-lasting.
Another clear example of the relationship between alcohol and the immune system is that alcohol destroys the beneficial microorganisms that make up the intestinal flora. These bacteria, which are normally located in the intestines and facilitate digestion while also contributing to the immune system, are damaged by heavy alcohol use. This makes it difficult to catch pathogenic microorganisms in the intestines, and the risk of intestinal inflammation may increase. Another negative effect of alcohol on the immune system is that it disrupts sleep patterns. A person's sleep pattern and decreased sleep quality are directly effective in weakening the immune system. When we look at scientific studies, it is seen that the less sleep you have, the higher the risk of developing infections such as colds. At the same time, alcohol use negatively affects the healing processes from these diseases. As a result, it is beneficial to avoid alcohol use for a healthy immune system and, if possible, to reduce alcohol consumption to zero.
Health Benefits of Quitting Alcohol
In individuals who have regular alcohol consumption habits, the harms of alcohol to the body can begin to decrease directly when they stop drinking. These effects are especially noticeable for those who have an addiction level of alcohol use. The symptoms that can be experienced after quitting drinking and the subsequent health benefits can be seen, albeit with slight differences, as follows:
- Withdrawal symptoms such as hand tremors, tension, sweating, restlessness and anxiety may be felt within 2-12 hours.
- While the symptoms experienced due to alcohol withdrawal from the body continue for 12-24 hours, low energy, depressive feelings, insomnia and cravings for alcohol may be observed.
- Withdrawal symptoms may begin to decrease or become manageable within 2-3 days.
- Withdrawal feelings may subside within 3-7 days for most people. However, for very heavy drinkers, withdrawal feelings may persist during this period and medical supervision is usually required.
- After 1 week, sleep patterns may begin to improve. After 2 weeks, weight loss may be felt due to the elimination of the intense energy intake brought to the body by alcohol. Fatty liver may begin to ease after this stage.
- After 3-4 weeks, blood pressure may begin to stabilize in people with high blood pressure due to alcohol consumption.
- After 1 month, the skin can regain a healthier appearance.
- After 3 months, improvements in general health and an increase in energy levels may be seen.
- At the end of 1 year, almost all individuals can completely get rid of symptoms such as insomnia, psychological problems, low energy, and alcohol cravings caused by alcohol and can continue their lives as a healthy individual.
Alcohol consumption, as seen above, negatively affects the body in many ways, especially the immune system, and causes you to be harmed in various ways. Therefore, if you have a habitual alcohol consumption, it is useful to consult your doctor and take steps as soon as possible to get rid of this habit. In addition, you can take additional measures to strengthen the weakened immune system and get advice from your doctor about foods and some food supplements that strengthen the immune system. You can also review our other content titled “ Why does the immune system weaken? ”, “ What happens if the immune system collapses? ” and “ How to strengthen the immune system? ” to get more detailed information on the subject.
Source
https://www.healthline.com/health/alcohol/effects-on-body
https://www.healthdirect.gov.au/how-alcohol-affects-your-health
https://americanaddictioncenters.org/alcoholism-treatment/body-effects
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/alcoholic-skin#:~:text=Frequent%20and%20excessive%20drinking%20can,skin%2C%20such%20as%20liver%20disease
https://www.healthline.com/health-news/can-alcohol-hurt-your-immune-system-during-covid-19-outbreak
https://delamere.com/blog/a-timeline-of-what-happens-when-you-quit-drinking-for-good
https://www.healthline.com/nutrition/alcohol-good-or-bad
https://www.webmd.com/diabetes/drinking-alcohol
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4338356/
https://www.bhf.org.uk/informationsupport/heart-matters-magazine/medical/effects-of-alcohol-on-your-heart#:~:text=How%20does%20alcohol%20affect%20my,of %20heart%20attack%20and%20stroke