How Alcohol Affects Your Body


Alcohol is linked with several types of cancer, including mouth, throat, voice box, esophagus, liver, colon and rectum, and breast cancer in females. And the risk of developing these cancers increases with the amount and duration of alcohol consumption, says Andrews. “The liver has a remarkable ability to heal, and quitting alcohol can reverse some liver damage,” says Dr. Kellog. Even moderate drinkers can see benefits from quitting alcohol, as it can help support a healthy lifestyle, says McMahon. As alcohol consumption increases, the liver adapts to break down alcohol more quickly. Over time, repeated alcohol exposure also alters a person’s brain chemistry.

ways alcohol can kill you

Regular alcohol consumption has a negative effect on the liver. Drinking negatively impacts the liver cells and can lead to liver disease. By not drinking, the liver has the chance to regenerate and improve its function.

It May Reduce Cancer Risk

Alcohol can cause psychological dependence, so if you’re finding it hard to manage the emotional element of quitting, reach out for help, says McMahon. And as a central nervous system depressant, alcohol can worsen mental health conditions such as depression, anxiety and panic https://ecosoberhouse.com/ disorder, says McMahon. However, alcohol will always have some effect on the body, she says. Stopping is impossible at this point without professional help because of the severe and potentially life-threatening withdrawal symptoms that would occur if they quit cold turkey.

  • If the items can’t tolerate a hot wash, steaming them is another option.
  • Alcohol also affects proper brain development in teenagers.
  • Do not wait for the person to have all the symptoms, and be aware that a person who has passed out can die.
  • Once someone reaches end-stage alcoholism, the brain, heart, kidneys, and liver have already experienced significant damage.
  • Using certain medications while drinking alcohol can also produce harmful effects.
  • Over time, repeated alcohol exposure also alters a person’s brain chemistry.

At this stage, drinking is no longer a social activity and instead might be done in isolation. The risk of dying from drunk driving or other alcohol-related accidents increases significantly at this stage. With continued exposure, the body adapts to alcohol’s depressant effect. When you reduce or stop drinking alcohol, the CNS becomes overexcited. That cotton-mouthed, bleary-eyed morning-after is no accident. Alcohol makes you dehydrated and makes blood vessels in your body and brain expand.

Other Dangerous Side Effects of Alcohol Withdrawal

To keep it all going smoothly, you need them in the right balance. For example, some studies suggest that moderate alcohol drinking can affect fertility for some women. Research also shows that heavy drinking by men may lower testosterone levels and affect the making of sperm. The most common individual cause of alcohol-related death in the United States is alcoholic liver disease, killing about 22,000 people a year. While the risk rises as people age and alcohol exposure accumulates, more than 5,000 Americans in their 20s, 30s and 40s die from alcoholic liver disease annually. It is dangerous to assume that an unconscious person will be fine by sleeping it off.

Alcohol deaths among women rise at a faster rate than men – PBS NewsHour

Alcohol deaths among women rise at a faster rate than men.

Posted: Thu, 10 Aug 2023 07:00:00 GMT [source]

But if you don’t know when to quit, you could be putting yourself in a life-threatening situation. When a person’s blood-alcohol level rises, so does the risk of alcohol poisoning. Drinking too much alcohol ways alcohol can kill you makes you more likely to cause accidental violent deaths. 40% of the violent crimes like assault, homicide, and domestic abuse were committed by people who had high BAC at the time of their arrest.

How Long Does It Take to Die from Alcoholism?

While every person’s alcohol addiction is unique, alcohol affects people in similar ways. Most people with an alcohol use disorder progress through three typical stages. Alcohol withdrawal happens when people who have an alcohol dependency either stop drinking or significantly curb their drinking. Others may experience severe or even life-threatening symptoms. Depending on your level of alcohol dependency, the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can become very serious and even life-threatening. That’s why it’s very important to manage your withdrawal safely.

ways alcohol can kill you

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