Consequences of alcohol

Long-term and short-term effects of alcohol use

The short-term effects of alcohol can be quite beneficial and not always negative. Most adults will not experience any ill effects from one or two drinks, even if they drink every day and remain light drinkers.
It is when the number of servings consumed increases and tolerance to alcohol develops, thattrouble begins. Alcohol abuse can lead to addiction, diagnosed as alcoholism.

Long-term consequences of alcohol abuse include domestic violence, drunk driving, and other destructive behaviors.

Short-term effects of alcohol

A drink corresponds to a glass of wine, liquor or a can of beer. This level of consumption is completely safe and may even reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and alcohol dementia. The short-term effects of higher doses vary based on the drinker's weight, gender, and other factors, including alcohol allergy. The positive effects of alcohol are undeniable. They include a sense of deep calm and relaxation that neurotic people crave. Tension tends to decrease, the person becomes less concentrated, reflexes slow down, response times increase, and coordination deteriorates. All of these effects are caused by slowing down of brain activity and begin to appear after drinking more than three or four drinks. In rarer cases, people can be injured after drinking an alcoholic beverage, especially if it is their first alcoholic beverage or if they have an underlying medical condition.

Short-term effects of alcohol include:

• Abdominal pain, nausea or diarrhea:Alcohol irritates the lining of the stomach and causes these effects. Note that these symptoms may indicate the development of alcoholic gastritis.
• Relaxation:Most people feel calmer and happier when they drink, so many turn to alcohol when they are stressed or sad. They become more lively and communicative.
• Visual and hearing impairment:Alcohol is a depressant and slows down the nervous system. Because the central nervous system controls motor and cognitive functions, people will exhibit longer reaction times. The most pronounced effects include slurred speech, blurred vision, and muffled hearing. Sometimes these effects of alcohol can show up even after a drink, so combine alcohol and driving.
• Fatigue, drowsiness:is part of the calming effect of alcohol. Drowsiness appears after the initial euphoria has passed. However, the opposite effect, called alcohol insomnia, is also possible.
• Low self-control, fuzzy thinking:By affecting the functionality of the central nervous system, alcohol makes a person less restrained and more prone to behaviors that may seem uncharacteristic. You are more likely to break the law or engage in risky sexual activities, such as having unprotected sex while under the influence of alcohol. Negative consequences of alcohol use include "early risers" when people are denied service at restaurants, drunk, and fighting.
• Memory impairment:The effects of alcohol consumption on memory are well known and are also caused by decreased activity of the nervous system. Violations can result in alcohol blackouts, when a person does not remember the events that happened after drinking. Another terrible side effect is delirium tremens.
• Mood swings:the initial "joy" gradually fades, giving way to depression. This sometimes causes people to keep drinking and mood swings can occur. Sometimes they are very serious: Depression in alcohol dependent people can eventually lead to suicide attempts with variable results. Renowned chef and television host Anthony Bourdain, who has battled alcohol and drug addiction, is a tragic example.

The consequences of alcohol: risks and dangers

Some of the short-term effects of alcohol can be fatal, and alcoholics are at special risk. Binge drinking is defined as binge drinking for a short period of time - 4 or more drinks in a single sitting. Alcohol intoxication occurs when the blood alcohol level reaches toxic levels, resulting in hangover symptoms that are more likely to occur when drinking a poor-quality beverage. Alcohol intoxication is a life-threatening medical emergency if left untreated. The following symptoms may appear:

• Mental confusion or stupor, person does not hold head, feels depressed;
• Unconscious;
• Seizures;
• Low body temperature or vice versa;
• Tremors or chills;
• Pale, cold and bluish skin;
• Slow or irregular breathing;
• Development of chronic diseases such as gout;
• Loss of bladder and bowel control;
• Comma.

Long-term effects of alcohol

Long-term effects of alcohol can include liver damage, depression, cancer, immune system disorders, hypertension, decreased sexual activity in men and loss of sexual desire in women, or pancreatitis. Over time, people who drink alcohol can develop cognitive problems. Side effects of this habit include irritability and decreased performance at work due to alcohol. Alcohol abuse negatively affects the kidneys and causes serious damage. Long-term abuse can cause cirrhosis of the liver, a serious liver disease that requires a liver transplant in many cases. Many people in the country die of cirrhosis.

The danger of underage drinking is much greater.

Other long-term effects also include the so-called dry drunken syndrome, where a person experiences the effects of alcohol intoxication without consuming alcohol at all. With prolonged alcohol consumption, people develop tolerance as the body gets used to more and more alcohol. This forces them to consume dangerously large amounts of alcohol without experiencing the short-term effects that would otherwise lead to discontinuation.

Effects of alcohol on women

Alcohol affects women differently than men. Gone are the days when it was believed that only men had a problem with alcohol. Today, more and more women abuse alcohol; Statistics show that millions of women in the country drink in a way that is considered dangerous to their safety, health and well-being. According to traffic authorities, a woman's blood alcohol level is high enough to increase the risk of a fatal car accident by 100% after drinking a drink on an empty stomach.

Drunk driving appears to be a male-only problem and of course it is not.

The side effects ofAlcohol in the male and female body are markedly different. According to experts, binge drinking and chronic binge drinking put women at far greater health and safety risks than men. Women who get drunk are more than twice as likely to be sexually or physically abused. The data shows that more than 50% of the sexual assaults registered in the country involve a woman, a man or both relatives of alcoholics. A study in Norway found that spouses who consume different amounts of alcohol are more likely to divorce than those who drink in comparable amounts. This was especially true in relationships where the wife was an avid alcoholic. The impact of alcoholism on women is more pronounced. Long-term alcohol consumption is much more dangerous for women's health: women are more likely to die from cirrhosis of the liver or from brain, heart or breast cancer. Children of women who drink alcohol during pregnancy are at risk of being born with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), a lifelong developmental disorder that manifests as abnormal facial features, growth retardation, alcohol-induced brain damageand emotional disturbances.

Side effects of alcohol abuse

• Neurological disorders;
• Diabetes and cognitive declineare two possible long-term effects of alcohol. Chronic alcohol use leads to an increased risk of developing diabetes. This leads to obesity, as alcohol is very high in calories and damages the pancreas, which secretes insulin;
  Long-term alcohol abuse can also cause learning difficulties and memory problems. This increases the risk of developing mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.
• Another major problem associated with persistent alcohol abuse is the so-called withdrawal syndrome:symptoms become more and more severe each time a person consumes ethanol. Alcohol also damages nerve cells and causes irreversible polyneuropathy.

Most of the long-term negative effects of alcohol are related to health, but there are exceptions. Sexual assault, rape that occurs after severe alcohol intoxication, aggravated assault, reckless driving, and theft or robbery committed while intoxicated affect loved ones, friends, and even complete strangers with whom they come in contact. The physical and cognitive decline due to alcohol abuse is enormous annually.

Harmful effects of alcohol

Addiction occurs when the body cannot function optimally without alcohol. The brain cannot send the correct signals to the body when it is getting used to the long-term effects of alcohol. When a person becomes addicted, they continue to drink, regardless of any physical or psychological symptoms caused by the drinking. In addition, a person who becomes addicted will continue to drink even if they experience job loss, panic attacks, break up with their family, or are arrested for alcohol-related behavior. You also face a higher risk of becoming addicted to other drugs because you crave more than alcohol brings. Lack of rationalization and loss of inhibitions also make people more inclined to experiment with illegal drugs and lead to many of the social consequences of alcohol dependence.

Addiction is a physical disorder that requires treatment. The consequences of abstinence from alcohol are dangerous and life-threatening. Treatment begins with detoxification. Ideally, this is followed by treatment at an inpatient or outpatient rehab center, where patients are helped to achieve long-term sobriety. If anything, experts believe that alcohol's short-term and long-term effects are the most damaging of all other types of drugs.

Exposure to alcohol: treatments

At an inpatient rehabilitation center, patients receive intensive counseling and therapy to help find positive ways to cope with the stress that has led to alcohol abuse. Treatment begins immediately after detoxification ends. These treatment programs have a minimum duration of 30 days. They can last up to a year. The best rehab centers are located in quiet and peaceful areas where patients can focus on their recovery. Therapists at these alcohol rehab centers recommend that patients continue outpatient treatment after their stay. It is also suggested to join support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous, for example