Long-term and short-term effects of alcohol consumption
The short-term effects of alcohol can be very beneficial, and not always negative. Most adults will not experience any ill effects from a drink or two, even if they drink every day and remain light drinkers.
As the number of servings consumed increases and tolerance to alcohol develops, problems begin. Alcohol abuse can lead to addiction which is 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 is equivalent to a glass of wine, schnapps or a can of beer. This consumption is completely safe and can even reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and alcohol dementia. The short-term effects of higher doses vary with the drinker's weight, gender, and other factors, including alcohol allergies. The beneficial effects of alcohol are undeniable. This includes a feeling of deep calm and relaxation that neurotic people crave. Tension usually decreases, the person becomes less focused, reflexes slow down, reaction times increase, and coordination deteriorates. All of these effects are caused by slowing brain activity and occur 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.
The short-term effects of alcohol include:
- Abdominal pain, nausea or diarrhea:Alcohol irritates the stomach lining 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 livelier and more talkative.
- 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 show longer reaction times. Stronger effects include blurred speech, blurred vision, and muffled hearing. Sometimes these effects of alcohol can also appear after a drink. So combine alcohol and driving.
- Fatigue, drowsiness:is part of the calming effect of alcohol. Drowsiness sets in after the initial euphoria has passed. However, the opposite effect known as alcohol insomnia is also possible.
- Poor self-control, blurred thinking:By impairing the functionality of the central nervous system, alcohol makes a person less reticent and more prone to behaviors that appear uncharacteristic. You are more likely to break the law or engage in risky sexual activities such as unprotected sex while under the influence of alcohol. The negative effects of drinking alcohol include "early risers" when people are denied service in restaurants, when they are drunk and they argue.
- Memory disorder:The effects of alcohol consumption on memory are known and are also caused by decreased activity of the nervous system. Violations can lead to alcohol drop-out if a person does not remember the events that occurred after drinking. Another terrible side effect is delirium tremens.
- Mood swings:The initial "happiness" gradually subsides and gives way to depression. This sometimes leads to people continuing to drink and having mood swings. They are sometimes very severe - depression in alcohol addicts can eventually lead to suicide attempts with varying results. Well-known chef and television host Anthony Bourdain, who fought against 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 particularly at risk. Binge drinking is defined as drinking excessively for a short period of time - 4 or more drinks in one session. Alcohol poisoning occurs when blood alcohol levels reach toxic levels, leading to hangover symptoms, which are more likely when drinking a low-quality beverage. Alcohol poisoning is a medical emergency and fatal if left untreated. You may experience the following symptoms:
- Mental confusion or stupor, the person does not hold their head, feels depressed;
- Unconscious;
- convulsions;
- Low body temperature or vice versa;
- tremors or tremors;
- Pale, cold, bluish skin;
- Irregular or slow breathing;
- developing 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 sexual performance in men, and loss of sex drive in women, or pancreatitis. Over time, people who drink alcohol can develop cognitive impairments. Side effects of this habit include irritability and increasingly poor job performance 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 in many cases requires a liver transplant. Many people in the country die of cirrhosis.
The risk of alcohol consumption by minors is much higher.
Other long-term effects include so-called dry drunkenness syndrome, in which a person experiences the effects of alcohol intoxication without even consuming alcohol. With long-term 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 feeling the short-term effects that would otherwise lead to weaning.
Effects of alcohol on women
Alcohol affects women differently than men. Gone are the days when it was assumed that only men had drinking problems. Today, more and more women are abusing alcohol - statistics show that millions of women in the country drink in ways that are considered dangerous to their safety, health and wellbeing. According to the 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 seems to be an all-male problem, and of course it isn't.
The side effectsof alcohol on the male and female bodies are significantly different. According to experts, women are at much higher health and safety risks than men from binge drinking and chronic binge drinking. Women who more than double are more than double the chance of being sexually or physically abused. The data shows that over 50% of all sexual assaults recorded in the country involve a woman, a man or both family members of alcoholics. A study in Norway found that spouses who drink different amounts of alcohol are more likely to divorce than spouses who drink similar amounts. This is especially true in relationships in which the woman was an avid alcoholic. The effects of alcoholism on women are 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 have brain, heart or breast cancer. Children of women who drink while pregnant are at risk of being born with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), a lifelong developmental disorder that manifests itself in abnormal facial features, growth disorders, alcohol-related brain damage, and emotional disorders.
Side effects of alcohol abuse
- Neurological disorders;
- Diabetes and cognitive impairmentare two possible long-term effects of alcohol. Chronic alcohol consumption leads to a higher risk of developing diabetes. This leads to obesity because alcohol is very high in calories and damages the pancreas that secretes insulin; long-term alcohol abuse can also cause learning and memory problems. This increases the risk of developing mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.
- Another major problem related to persistent alcohol abuse is what is known aswithdrawal syndrome:The symptoms become more and more severe with each consumption of ethanol. Alcohol also damages nerve cells and causes irreversible polyneuropathy.
Most of the long-term negative effects of alcohol are health related, but there are exceptions. Sexual assault, rape that occurs after severe alcohol intoxication, serious assault, reckless driving, and robbery or theft committed while being poisoned affects loved ones, friends, and even complete strangers with whom they come in contact. The physical and cognitive impairment caused by alcohol abuse is enormous every year.
Harmful effects of alcohol
Addiction occurs when the body cannot function optimally without alcohol. The brain cannot send the right signals to the body when it gets used to the long-term effects of alcohol. If a person becomes addicted, they will 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 arrested for losing their job, having panic attacks, being separated from their family, or for alcohol-related behavior. He is also at an increased risk of becoming addicted to other drugs because they charge more than the alcohol can do. Failure to rationalize and lose inhibitions also makes people more likely to experiment with illegal drugs and lead to many of the social consequences of alcohol addiction.
Addiction is a physical disorder that needs treatment. The consequences of alcohol withdrawal are dangerous and potentially life-threatening. Treatment begins with detoxification. Ideally, this is followed by treatment in an inpatient or outpatient rehab facility, where the patient is helped to achieve long-term sobriety. If anything, experts believe that the short- and long-term effects of alcohol are the most harmful of all other types of drugs.
Alcohol exposure: treatments
In an inpatient rehabilitation center, patients receive therapy and intensive counseling to find positive ways to deal with the stress that has led them to alcohol abuse. Treatment begins immediately after the detox is over. These treatment programs last at least 30 days. They can last up to a year. The best rehab centers are located in calm, peaceful areas where patients can focus on their recovery. The therapists at these alcoholic rehabilitation centers recommend that patients continue outpatient treatment after their stay. It is also recommended to join support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, e. g. B.