Long- and short-term consequences of alcohol consumption
The short-term effects of alcohol can be very positive and not always negative. Most adults do not experience any adverse effects with one or two drinks, even if they drink every day and continue to drink light.
Problems occur when the number of servings consumed and alcohol tolerance increase. Alcohol consumption can lead to addiction, diagnosed as alcoholism.
The long-term consequences of alcohol consumption include domestic violence, drunk driving, and other destructive behaviors.
Short-term effects of alcohol
A drink is equivalent to a glass of wine, liqueur, or a can of beer. This consumption is completely safe and can even reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and alcoholic dementia. The short-term effects of higher doses depend on the body drinker's weight, gender, and other factors, including alcohol allergy. The positive effects of alcohol are undeniable. This includes the feeling of deep calm and relaxation that neurotic people desire. Tension usually decreases, the person becomes less concentrated, reflexes slow down, reaction time increases, and coordination deteriorates. All of these effects are caused by a slowdown in brain activity and begin to appear after consuming more than three or four drinks. In rare cases, people may be injured after consuming one of the alcoholic beverages, especially if this is their first alcoholic beverage or if they have some form of liver disease.
The short-term effects of alcohol are:
Abdominal pain, nausea or diarrhea:Alcohol irritates the stomach lining, causing these effects. Note that these symptoms may indicate the development of alcoholic gastritis. - Rest:Most people feel calmer and happier when they drink, which is why many people turn to alcohol in a stressful or sad situation. They become sharper and more talkative
- Visual and hearing impairment:Alcohol is depressive and slows down the nervous system itself. Because the central nervous system regulates motor and cognitive functions, people show longer reaction times. More pronounced effects include blurred speech, blurred vision, and dull hearing. Sometimes these alcohol effects can occur even after a drink, so it combines alcohol and driving.
- Fatigue, drowsiness:is part of the sedative effect of alcohol. Drowsiness begins to set in when the initial euphoria is over. However, the opposite effect, called alcohol insomnia, is also possible.
- Poor self-control, vague mindset:Alcohol, by impairing the functioning of the central nervous system, holds a person less captive and tends to behave, which seems to be typical. One is more likely to break the law or engage in risky sexual activities, such as unprotected sex under the influence of alcohol. The negative consequences of alcohol consumption include "early rises" when people are refused restaurants when they are drunk and fight.
- 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 lead to alcohol consumption when one does not remember the events that occurred after drinking. Another terrible side effect is delirium tremens.
- Mood swings:the initial “cheerfulness” gradually fades, giving way to depression. This sometimes makes people continue to drink and mood swings can occur. Sometimes they are very severe - depression in alcohol-dependent people can eventually lead to suicide attempts with different results. Anthony Bourdain, a renowned chef and TV host who struggled with alcohol and drug addiction, is a tragic example.
Consequences of alcohol: risks and dangers
The short-term effects of alcohol can be fatal, and alcoholics are at particular risk. Excessive alcohol consumption should be considered excessive drinking for a short time - at least 4 drinks in one or more sessions. Alcohol poisoning occurs when the blood alcohol level reaches a toxic level and causes a hangover symptoms that are more likely to occur when consuming a low-color drink. Alcohol poisoning is fatal in a medical emergency and untreated. The following symptoms may occur:
- mental disorder or stump, man does not hold his head, feels depressed;
- unconscious;
- convulsions;
- low body temperature or vice versa;
- Trembling or shaking;
- Pale, cold, bluish skin;
- Irregular or slow breathing;
- Chronic diseases such as gout
- Loss of bladder and bowel control;
- Coma.
Long-term effects of alcohol
The long-term effects of alcohol can include liver damage, depression, cancer, immune system disorders, high blood pressure, decreased male sexual performance, and loss of sexual desire in women or pancreatitis. Over time, alcoholics may develop cognitive impairments. Side effects of this habit include getting worse at work due to irritability and alcohol. Alcohol consumption negatively affects the kidneys, causing severe damage. Long-term abuse can cause cirrhosis of the liver, a severe liver disease that in many cases requires a liver transplant. Many people in the country die of cirrhosis.
Minors drink much more alcohol.
Other long-term effects include the so-called dry drunk syndrome, in which a person experiences the effects of alcohol poisoning without consuming alcohol at all. With long-term alcohol consumption, people develop tolerance as the body becomes accustomed to more and more alcohol. This causes them to consume dangerously large amounts of alcohol without experiencing the short-term effects that would otherwise lead to interruption.
The effect of alcohol on women
Alcohol affects women differently than men. Gone are the days when it was believed that only men have alcohol problems. Today, more and more women are abusing alcohol - statistics show that millions of women in the country consume drinks that are considered dangerous for their safety, health and well-being. Traffic authorities say a woman's blood alcohol level is high enough to increase her risk of a fatal car accident by 100% after drinking a drink for free on her stomach.
Drunk driving is a purely male problem and certainly not.
The side effects of alcohol on the body of a man and a woman are significantly different. Experts say alcohol consumption and chronic alcohol consumption pose a much greater health and safety risk for women than men. Women who are drunk are more than twice as likely to experience sexual or physical violence. The data show that more than 50% of sexual harassment registered in the country has both family members of women, men and alcoholics. A Norwegian study found that spouses who consume different amounts of alcohol are more likely to divorce than those who consume similar amounts of drink. This is especially true of relationships in which the wife was an avid alcoholic. The impact of alcoholism on women is more pronounced. Long-term alcohol consumption is much more dangerous to women’s health - women are more likely to die from cirrhosis of the liver or suffer from brain, heart or breast cancer. Children of women who drink during pregnancy are at risk of being born with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS); it is a lifelong developmental disorder manifested in the form of abnormal facial features, stunted growth, alcohol-induced brain damage, and emotional disturbances.
Side effects of alcohol consumption
- Nervous System Disorders;
- Diabetes and cognitive impairmentare two possible long-term effects of alcohol. Chronic alcohol consumption is a higher risk of developing diabetes. This leads to obesity, as alcohol is very high in calories and damages the pancreas, which secretes insulin;
Prolonged alcohol consumption can also cause learning difficulties and memory problems. This increases the risk of developing mental disorders such as depression and anxiety- Another big problem with long-term alcohol consumption is calledwithdrawal syndrome:Symptoms get worse every time a person consumes ethanol. Alcohol also damages nerve cells, causing irreversible polyneuropathy
The long-term negative effects of alcohol are related to health, but there are exceptions. Sexual harassment, rape that occurs after severe alcohol poisoning, aggravated assault, careless driving, and drunk robbery or theft affect loved ones, friends, and even strangers they come in contact with. The physical and cognitive impairment due to alcohol consumption is huge every year.
Harmful effects of alcohol
Addiction occurs when the body is unable to function optimally without alcohol. The brain is unable to send the right signal to the body if it gets used to the long-term effects of alcohol. When someone is addicted, they continue to drink, regardless of the physical or psychological symptoms caused by drinking. In addition, the addicted person continues to drink, even if they break up due to job loss, panic attacks, family members, or are arrested for alcohol possession. There is also an increased risk of dependence on other drugs as they crave more than alcohol. The lack of unreasonableness and the loss of inhibitions make people tend 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 alcohol consumption are dangerous and life-threatening. Treatment begins with detoxification. Ideally, this is followed by treatment in an outpatient or outpatient rehabilitation facility, where patients are helped to achieve long-term sobriety. If there is anything, experts believe that the short- and long-term effects of alcohol are the most dangerous of all other types of drugs.
Alcohol exposure: treatments
At the Inpatient Rehabilitation Center, patients receive therapy and intensive counseling to help them find positive ways to manage the stress that led them to drink alcohol. Treatment begins immediately after completion of detoxification. These treatment programs last for at least 30 days. They can last up to a year. The best rehabilitation centers are located in quiet, peaceful areas where patients can focus on their recovery. Therapists at these alcohol rehabilitation centers recommend that patients continue outpatient treatment after their stay. We also recommend that you join support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, such as