Alcohol's effects on the body
©Copyright Blethen Maine Newspapers Inc.- A lethal hold on Maine
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Esophagus: Alcohol is associated with nearly half of the cancers of the esophagus,
mouth and larynx. People who vomit too intensely after getting drunk can cause tears in
their esophagus.
Brain: Alcohol depresses the central nervous system and contracts brain tissue.
And yes, it destroys brain cells. Taken in large amounts over a long period of time,
alcohol can cause serious problems with cognition and memory. Longtime alcoholics can
develop a thiamine deficiency that can lead to severe short-term memory loss.
Heart: Heavy drinking can cause heart disease, stroke, high blood pressure and
heart failure. Even social drinkers who binge on special occasions can sometimes get
bouts of irregular heartbeats, a condition known as "holiday heart."
Lungs: Heavy drinkers have more pulmonary infections and can be more susceptible
to pneumonias and lung collapse. An intoxicated person loses his reflexes and canšt clear
his airway when he vomits. Stomach contents may get sucked into the lungs, which can lead
to choking or pneumonia.
Liver: Liver damage often begins with a fatty liver, and may progress to alcoholic
hepatitis. That may be followed by the buildup of scar tissue known as cirrhosis.
Cirrhosis can change the structure of the liver and choke off blood flow. This can
cause varicose veins, which can rupture, triggering catastrophic bleeding.
Stomach: Alcohol irritates the stomach, and can cause gastritis, ulcers and acid
reflux. Gastritis is an inflammation of the mucous membrane that lines the stomach.
Erosion in that lining can cause constant oozing of blood into the stomach or, if a
vessel ruptures, a major bleed.
Kidneys: Alcohol is a diuretic that increases urine output. Prolonged heavy
drinking can cause kidney failure.
Small intestines & pancreas: Alcohol blocks the absorption and breakdown of nutrients
by damaging the cells lining the stomach and intestines, and by decreasing the amount of
digestive enzymes secreted by the pancreas. For reasons that arenšt clear, the pancreas can
become inflamed and leak digestive enzymes, which then attack the pancreas itself.
Pancreatitis is extremely painful and can be fatal.
Reproductive system: Heavy drinking changes the balance of hormones. In men,
it impairs the production of sperm and testosterone, and can lead to infertility and
impotence. In women, decreased estrogen metabolism in the liver increases the amount
of estrogen circulating in the body, which can contribute to menstral irregularities
and infertility.
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