Long Term Effects of Alcohol

The legal age of drinking alcohol in United States is 21 years. Yet, almost 80% of high school students have had a drink before they complete their legal age. Teenage and beer bottles are synonymous to each other. Not just the teenagers, mature adults seem to have liking for alcoholic drinks. A party isn't complete without toast and punch. Drinking alcohol in moderation is not a problem, though.

Alcohol abuse has become the 3rd largest killer in the United States. You may get a temporary high, but this high is going to cost you a lot in terms of your health. There are many short-term and long-term effects of alcohol on your body. By the time you reach the end of this article, you will definitely make sure you drink in moderation or stop drinking alcohol forever.

Short Term Effects of Alcohol on the Body
Apart from a really bad hangovers, vomiting, nausea, headaches, temporary memory loss and loss of consciousness there are a few serious short-term effects of alcohol on the body. You may not notice these negative effects immediately, but gradually alcohol is making your body undergo several changes.

You may love the mild euphoria and stimulation after drinking alcohol. Some even find their concentration power increases after having a shot. But, there are a few hidden short-term effects on the body that you may not notice, but your wife surely does. After consuming alcohol you body undergoes different stages as your Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) keeps on increasing. The more you drink the more BAC and more pronounced will be the effects on the body. Let's see some of the different stages of alcohol consumption and their effects.

Stages of Alcohol in the Body	Blood Alcohol Concentration	Short Term Effects
Well-being Stage	Up to 0.05 g%	The person becomes a bit more talkative, feels more relaxed and more confident
Euphoria Stage	0.05-0.08 g%	The person becomes more and more talkative, begins to feel self-confident and his level of judgment and movement is impaired. He starts showing reduction in inhibitions he may generally display.
Intoxication Stage	0.08-0.15 g%	The high level of alcohol starts affecting his speech, making it more slurred. He begins to lose his balance and coordination. His reflexes slow down and visual attention decreases. His emotional state becomes unstable and the person feels nausea and may vomit.
Hazardous Stage	0.15-0.30 g%	The person cannot walk without help. He becomes apathetic and feels sleepy. He shows signs of labored breathing and can no longer remember events. He may even lose bladder control and consciousness
Final Stage	Over 0.30 g%	The final stage is when there is excess of alcohol within the body. The body suffers from alcohol poisoning. The effects of alcoholic poisoning include coma and death.

The most common short-term effects is intoxication. This effect is the major cause of all injuries and deaths related to alcohol. Over 30% of road accidents are due to intoxication. 16% child abuse cases are carried out by people who are intoxicated. 12% people who commit suicide take their own life under the influence of alcohol. Alcohol also leads to decrease in productivity at work, violent assaults, domestic abuse and relationship problems.

Long Term Effects of Alcohol on the Body
Every year, there are over 101,000 people who are hospitalized and over 3000 people die due to alcohol poisoning. Alcohol abuse leads to many health implications. Over 2 million American people suffer from alcohol related liver diseases. Let us have a look at some of the long-term effects of alcohol on the body.

Weight Gain
Alcohol contains a lot of sugar. Sugar means calories. Calories mean weight gain. Chronic alcoholism leads to weight gain not only because of the high alcoholic content, but also because they tend to eat a lot. Alcohol increases the cravings for more food and this makes an alcoholic eat at inappropriate time. Late night parties, eating all through the night and free drinks all add a few extra pounds to an alcoholic's waist.

Skin
Have you noticed the skin of a heavy drinker? It is dull, dry and has a wrinkled appearance. This is because alcohol causes dehydration. It also dilates the body's capillaries causing them to rupture. Thus, you will see redness and broken veins present on the face of a heavy drinker. Red nose is a sign of a drinker, a statement you may have often heard is no myth, but a fact.

Eyes
The bloodshot eyes are a sure shot sign of alcohol addiction. Just as the capillaries under skin rupture, the blood vessels of the eyes meet a similar fate. You may even notice the white of the eyes turning yellow, a sign of liver disease in an alcoholic.

Body Odor
The body of an alcoholic will give out a typical body odor that is due to the excess of alcohol in their system. This excess alcohol is secreted in their urine and sweat. and this causes the bad smell to linger over their body and the main reason for bad breath.

Liver Diseases
The liver is the largest gland in the human body. This smart organ has the ability to regenerate itself when it suffers from injury and damage. But, years of abuse due to heavy drinking takes a toll on this organ. Liver suffers from irreparable damage leading to some serious alcohol related liver diseases. Some of these liver disorders include alcoholic hepatitis, liver cancer, enlarged liver, impaired liver functions, liver cirrhosis, fatty liver, etc.

Heart Diseases
It is scientifically proven, moderate amount of alcohol may prove beneficial for heart health. However, drinking in excess has many long-term effects on the heart. One may suffer from heart attacks, stroke, heart diseases, high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy, etc.

Brain Damage
Brain undergoes many structural as well as functional changes due to long-term effects of alcohol. These harmful effects affect brain functions such as decision-making, impulse control, speech problems, etc. It also leads to brain cell damage leading to loss of memory, confusion and disturbed sleep pattern.

Nervous System
The nervous system too develops some problems due to chronic alcoholism. One may suffer from tingling, loss of sensation in hands and feet, etc.

Sexual Organs
Alcoholics suffer from many sexual problems due to the effects of alcohol. In men, it leads to impotence, decrease in sperm count, erectile dysfunction, etc. In women, it causes irregular periods, problems conceiving, miscarriage and painful labor.

Other Long Term Effects
Apart from the above health complications, there are many other issues related to long-term effects of alcohol on the body like:

• Depression
• Suicidal thoughts
• Nervous breakdown
• Changes in personality
• Dementia
• Hallucinations
• Mood Swings
• Pancreatitis
• Ulcers
• Diabetes
• Obesity

Effects of Alcohol Poisoning
Alcohol poisoning is a condition that occurs when a toxic reaction takes place in the body due to too much drinking. Some of the effects of poisoning when spotted early on, may help you save someone's life. Alcohol poising can lead to severe brain damage and even death. Binge drinking is the most common cause of alcohol poisoning. The effects of alcohol poisoning are as follows:

• Mental confusion
• Vomiting
• Seizures
• Stupor
• Coma
• Slow breathing (the person has less than 8 breaths per minute)
• Irregular breathing (there is a difference of 10 seconds or more between breaths)
• Hypothermia
• Pale skin or bluish skin color

These were some of the short and long-term effects of alcohol on the body. As you can see, heavy chronic drinking can lead to physical damage and even death. Not only are you mentally and physically sick, but also become financially unstable. You may lose your friends, family and face relationship problems. Too much alcohol will ruin your life. In order to avoid alcohol related problems, make sure you drink in moderation or even better turn a teetotaler. If you feel you have a problem, there are many alcoholic anonymous centers and alcohol rehab centers that help in alcohol treatment. Hope above long-term effects of alcohol on human body proves to be an eye opener for all those who are bent on ruining their own as well the lives of their loved ones by drinking excess alcohol.