Too much alcohol causes serious health risks, but also serious social effects.

Besides immediate conditions such as skin problems, nausea and headaches, drinking carries with it serious long-term health risks.

Alcohol Information: Alcohol Health Effects

Health risks associated with heavy drinking may include blood clot problems leading to heart disease, liver inflammation or cirrhosis (possibly fatal scarring), stomach ulcers and ruptures from vomiting, lung problems and nutritional deficiencies. Too much alcohol also causes sexual problems (for example excessive alcohol inhibits the nerves necessary for a man to have an erection), eventual osteoporosis and even death.

For example, there is substantial evidence that people who drink alcohol heavily (roughly, over 22 units or 11 pints of beer a week) are twice as likely to die from a stroke or heart attack. An increased cancer threat has even been noted: even moderate alcohol drinkers increase their chances of suffering from breast cancer, and heavy drinking is implicated in stomach and lung cancer.

Furthermore, drinking piles on the pounds, contributing to excess weight and obesity. One glass of white wine has 85 calories, a gin and tonic 140 and a pint of beer can contain up to 300 calories. In fact, drinking a couple a gin and tonics a night for a month will add 4lbs to your total body weight.

Alcohol Brain Risks: What Can Alcohol Do to Your Brain?

Scientists agree that alcohol is toxic and that chronic alcohol abuse can damage all organs - including the brain - to various degrees. Research has consistently shown that alcohol has a negative effect on the brain, motor function and thought processes. There is proof that significant damage can be done in several regions of the brain after only four days of drinking, that it occurs during intoxication, and that the process is primarily necrotic, meaning that brain cells are irreversibly damaged. In other words, alcohol-induced brain damage occurs during intoxication as well as during recovery.

In the day-to-day life of an alcoholic or binge drinker, this means a decreased ability to learn, to recall, to make decisions, and perhaps to sense and appreciate life to the full. "Alcohol selectively suppresses the brain areas needed to incorporate new information into correct motor function," says Dartmouth brain science professor John D. Van Horn. In other words, alcohol suppresses activity in brain regions most commonly associated with the brain's ability to monitor and process visual feedback. "We know that alcohol has a global effect on the brain. The poor coordination one feels after a couple of drinks is due to the poor processing in brain areas critical for models for motor function,” continues Van Horn.

It is generally believed that only alcoholics have a problem, but studies show that binge drinking also affects cognitive performance.
"There is evidence that repeated, abrupt increases of alcohol levels in the brain, followed by abstinence, induces more damage in the brain than the same amount of alcohol taken uninterrupted in the same length of time," says Theodora Duka, professor at the University of Sussex.

The Social Effects of Alcohol

The effects of alcohol reach beyond the physical. Drunkenness or hangovers can jeopardise jobs and cause financial worries and even the loss of a home. As many as fourteen million days are lost in workplaces in the UK due to alcohol-related problems. Being drunk also reduces judgement, increasing the chance of unsuitable behaviour that could lead to criminal charges or other legal consequences.

Alcohol may also be detrimental to relationships and families, since being intoxicated changes a person’s behaviour, often making them aggressive or irresponsible and losing the respect of those around them. Alcohol increases the chances of having an argument or physical fight, straining relationships and possibly leading to divorce or domestic violence. This in turn impacts negatively on the children.

Furthermore, alcohol lowers inhibitions, sometimes leading to unsafe sex which could cause sexually transmitted diseases or unplanned pregnancies. Surveys suggest that after drinking, one in seven 16-24 year olds have unsafe sex, and one in five have sex they later regret.

Alcohol and Alcoholism: Drinking Problem Treatments

Treatment for alcoholism or an alcohol problem is not only about stopping a person drinking. Social support or coping strategies for cutting out alcohol must also be addressed in order to prevent a relapse.

• Alcoholism Treatment: Detoxification by completely stopping alcohol consumption is a way of treating the physical effects. This is not always necessary for binge drinkers. Another option is to ration alcohol or drink only in moderation, although this is not advisable for people who have an alcohol addiction or an inability to control alcohol consumption
• Alcoholism Treatment: Medication helps reduce cravings and minimises withdrawal symptoms
• Alcoholism Treatment: Behavioural therapy improves coping skills and can help you understand the psychological issues that compel you to drink
• Alcoholism Treatment: Self help and support groups can take place at night without interfering with employment, and work well for people who are able to manage their own treatment
• Alcoholism Treatment: For people who need continuous treatment, day programs at hospitals aim to reduce stress and prevent relapses, making use of group sessions
• Alcoholism Treatment: For people who have serious medical or psychological problems or need a longer-term structured situation or a detox, inpatient treatment at a hospital may be an option
• Alcoholism Treatment: Multivitamins, especially B vitamins, may help overcome the physical effects

Do you think you could have an alcohol problem? Or are you worried that someone you know may be risking their health by drinking too much alcohol? Share your thoughts, views and experiences on alcohol with other users using the Comment on this Article box below. Plus, to keep up to date with all the latest alcohol health news and lots more health tips on diet, healthy eating and more, sign-up for the monthly KeeptheDoctorAway Newsletter below.

Read More About Alcohol

Understanding Alcohol: Find out more about alcohol and its affects on the body.

Alcoholism - The Signs: Find out what to look for to see if someone you know is an alcoholic.

Alcohol: The Health Dangers: Understand the Health risks involved with heavy drinking.

Alcohol & Driving: Know your limits.

Drinking & Depression: Understand how drinking can cause depression in certain people.

Alcohol and Pregnancy: Information and advice on how much you can drink when pregnant and the health effects.

Alcohol & Family Life: How drinking can affect your family life, plus information on teenage drinking.