Since stepping into my 40s I have become much more health-conscious and aware of what I put onto (and into) my body. I’m not one for regrets, but if I were to have any, it would be some of the reckless things I did to my body in my twenties – like globetrotting across hot countries with low or no sun protection on my skin, plus smoking socially (thank the Lord I never smoked full time) and lastly, the amount of alcohol I used to drink – and the level of drunkenness that that would cause in me - at weekends. Thank the Lord (again) that there was no social media back then, to witness the devastation.
In those supposed carefree (but oftentimes careless) days in my twenties, I had some of the most fun and memorable life experiences. Coming from a big family, I am a very social being; and while I worked hard and played hard, I just loved being with people. As drinking was definitely much more ingrained in my culture and in my generation, that often meant attending parties and other social occasions where it was quite widely accepted that everyone would be sh*tfaced by the end of the evening. Binge drinking at weekends was the norm.
This is not good, and many people my age are changing their lifestyles to redress the balance of heavier or more sustained binge drinking at a younger age. I for one will only drink occasionally now. I am informed and make delicious alcohol choices which I enjoy – like a Shortcross and a good tonic with a slice of orange; or a delicious glass of red with Sunday lunch - but just not to excess. I know quite a few people my age – and younger - who didn’t get off the party bus and it has taken its toll on their mental and physical health as well as relationships, careers and financial situation. So let’s get sober & take a look at alcohol. Let’s talk about drink, baby.
Alcohol’s impact on your body starts from the moment you take your first sip. While an occasional glass of wine with dinner isn’t a cause for concern, the cumulative effects of drinking wine, beer, or spirits can take its toll. In short, long term casual drinking carries some long term risks and causes long term damage – and that’s a fact.
A glass a day may do little damage to your overall health. But if the habit grows or if you find yourself having a hard time stopping after just one glass, the cumulative effects can add up. The NHS recommends that both men and women should not drink more than 14 units a week (a small glass of wine is roughly 1.5 units).
Here are just a few of the physiological effects of alcohol on your body:
Pancreatitis Risk…
Drinking too much alcohol can cause abnormal activation of digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas. Build-up of these enzymes can lead to inflammation known as pancreatitis. Pancreatitis can become a long-term condition and cause serious complications.
Inflammatory Liver Damage
With the exception of the brain, the liver is the most complex organ in the body. We know that drinking is very hard on this crucial organ, which helps break down and remove harmful substances from your body, including alcohol, but some alcohol-related liver diseases aren’t always reversible and can sometimes be deadly.
Long-term alcohol use interferes with the liver’s detoxing processes. It also increases your risk for chronic liver inflammation and liver disease. The scarring caused by this inflammation is known as cirrhosis. The formation of scar tissue destroys the liver. As the liver becomes increasingly damaged, it has a harder time removing toxic substances from your body.
Liver disease is life-threatening and leads to toxins and waste build up in your body. Women are at higher risk for developing alcoholic liver disease. Women’s bodies are more likely to absorb more alcohol and need longer periods of time to process it. Women also show liver damage more quickly than men.
Sugar levels
The pancreas helps regulate your body’s insulin use and response to glucose. When your pancreas and liver aren’t functioning properly, you run the risk of experiencing low blood sugar, or hypo-glycemia. A damaged pancreas may also prevent the body from producing enough insulin to utilize sugar. This can lead to hyper-glycemia, or too much sugar in the blood. Note the difference HYPO vs HYPER.
If your body can’t manage and balance your blood sugar levels, you may experience greater complications and side effects related to diabetes. It’s important for people with diabetes or hypo-glycemia to avoid excessive amounts of alcohol.
Central nervous system
One of the easiest ways to understand alcohol’s impact on your body is by understanding how it affects your central nervous system. Slurred speech is one of the first signs you’ve had too much to drink. Alcohol can reduce communication between your brain and your body. This makes coordination more difficult. You may have a hard time balancing. You should never drive after drinking.
As alcohol causes more damage to your central nervous system, you may experience numbness and tingling sensations in your feet and hands.
Drinking also makes it difficult for your brain to create long-term memories. It also reduces your ability to think clearly and make rational choices. Over time, frontal lobe damage can occur. This area of the brain is responsible for emotional control, short-term memory, and judgement, in addition to other vital roles.
Chronic and severe alcohol abuse can also cause permanent brain damage. This can lead to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, a brain disorder that affects memory.
Dependency
Some people who drink heavily may develop a physical and emotional dependency on alcohol. Alcohol withdrawal can be difficult and life-threatening. You often need professional help to break an alcohol addiction. As a result, many people seek medical detoxification to get sober. It’s the safest way to ensure you break the physical addiction. Depending on the risk for withdrawal symptoms, detoxification can be managed on either an outpatient or inpatient basis.
Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include:
· anxiety
· nervousness
· nausea
· tremors
· high blood pressure
· irregular heartbeat
· heavy sweating
· Seizures, hallucinations, and delirium may occur in severe cases of withdrawal.
Digestive system
The connection between alcohol consumption and your digestive system might not seem immediately clear. The side effects often only appear after there has been damage. And the more you drink, the greater the damage will become.
Drinking can damage the tissues in your digestive tract and prevent your intestines from digesting food and absorbing nutrients and vitamins. As a result, malnutrition may occur. Heavy drinking can also lead to:
· bloating
· a feeling of fullness in your abdomen
· diarrhea or painful stools
For people who drink heavily, ulcers or haemorrhoids (due to dehydration and constipation) aren’t uncommon. And they may cause dangerous internal bleeding. Ulcers can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated early.
People who consume too much alcohol may also be at risk for cancer. People who drink frequently are more likely to develop cancer in the mouth, throat, easophagus, colon, or liver. People who regularly drink and use tobacco together have a greater cancer risk.
Circulatory system
Alcohol can affect your heart and lungs. People who are chronic drinkers of alcohol have a higher risk of heart-related issues than people who do not drink. Women who drink are more likely to develop heart disease than men who drink.
Circulatory system complications include:
· difficulty pumping blood through the body
· stroke
Difficulty absorbing vitamins and minerals from food can cause anaemia. This is a condition where you have a low red blood cell count. One of the biggest symptoms of anaemia is fatigue.
Sexual and Reproductive Health
You may think drinking alcohol can lower your inhibitions and help you have more fun in bed. But the reality is quite different. Men who drink too much are more likely to experience erectile dysfunction. Heavy drinking can also prevent sex hormone production and lower your libido.
Women who drink too much may stop menstruating. That puts them at a greater risk for infertility. Women who drink heavily during pregnancy have a higher risk of premature delivery, miscarriage, or stillbirth.
Women who drink alcohol while pregnant put their unborn child at risk. Foetal alcohol syndrome disorders (FASD) is a serious concern. Other conditions include:
· learning difficulties
· long-term health issues
· increased emotional problems
· physical development abnormalities
· Skeletal and muscle systems
Long-term alcohol use may prevent your body from keeping your bones strong. This habit may cause thinner bones and increase your risk for fractures if you fall. And factures may heal more slowly.
Drinking alcohol may also lead to muscle weakness, cramping, and eventually atrophy.
Immune system
Drinking heavily reduces your body’s natural immune system. This makes it more difficult for your body to fight off invading germs and viruses.
People who drink heavily over a long period of time are also more likely to develop pneumonia or tuberculosis than the general population. About 10% of all TB cases worldwide can be tied to alcohol consumption. Drinking alcohol also increases your risk for several types of cancer, including mouth, breast, and colon.
The NHS website also lists these side effects – some solely physical, others emotional and much wider-reaching…
Mood
Consuming alcohol can make us feel more confident – it comes as no surprise that people often have first dates in a place where alcohol is served, and party animals come to life with a few cocktails on board, but did you know that consuming alcohol actually numbs our emotions? It depresses the central nervous system leading to mood fluctuations and, over time, it can actually change your brain chemistry for the worse, causing feelings of depression. In the short term, it can cause irritability and anger issues. That tiredness & difficulty sleeping you feel after alcohol (sometimes in the days after)? That’s the chemical make up being affected by alcohol.
Relationships
A sad fact is that alcohol misuse is one of the leading contributors to family and relationship breakups. Over time and often without realising, behaviour can change and drinkers can become aggressive, angry and violent. Families are forced to watch loved ones change and self-loathing can cause drinkers to drink even more.
Brain Box
The British Medical Journey did a study which showed that excessive drinking doesn’t just make you impulsive (hello, bad choices) it also affects your intelligence… Think of all those brain cells depleting as you chug your endless beers…
Beauty & the Beast
There is a general consensus in the skincare industry that alcohol is one of the worst things to destroy your skin – think wrinkles, acne, dehydratiom, dark circles and even hair loss – NO THANKS!
The C Word
Another scary fact from the NHS is that alcohol misuse can actually increase your risk of developing certain cancers including liver, bowel, mouth and breast cancer. YIKES.
What can you do?
The easiest way to avoid those frightening long-term effects of alcohol is to drink less. Don’t drink more than the recommend weekly amount, and, limit excessive drinking.
I try to drink water between alcoholic drinks when I’m out, because not only does it improve a hangover, but it is also giving your body a break in between drinks and avoids dehydration.
If you drink to avoid feeling down, then talk to someone - a friend, family member or someone you trust. Go for a walk or do something active – drinking will only make you feel worse in the long run. If you feel you may have an alcohol problem speak to a professional, there is lots of help available, remember - you are not alone.