Most people can enjoy small amounts of alcohol without any problems, as the HSC Public Health Agency for Northern Ireland explains. For those who binge drink over long periods of time, alcohol can have serious repercussions, affecting more than one body system.
The Brain
Responsible for cognitive abilities such as memory, attention, judgment and coordination, the brain is affected for up to 72 hours after heavy alcohol use. Alcohol inhibits your ability to remember information you learned prior to drinking, as well as your ability to study, due to a hangover.
The long-term effect, according to Virginia Tech, is damage to the connections between nerve cells. This may lead to irreversible brain damage, including both changes in your personality and memory loss. The HSC Public Health Agency concurs, adding that binge drinking can cause blackouts and anxiety, while long-term drinking may cause permanent brain damage and mental health problems, and lead to alcoholism.
The Liver
The liver is responsible for many processes in the body, which alcohol may adversely affect. Michaele P. Dunlap, a clinical psychologist, explains that the liver not only helps digest fatty foods, but it also stores and releases sugar and produces heparin, an anticoagulant responsible for preventing the formation of blood clots. Perhaps most important, the liver cleanses the body of toxins, and with small amounts of alcohol, this cleansing can still occur. When alcohol levels are high, however, imbalances in the liver take place, leading to low blood sugar, fatty liver deposits and hyperlipemia. These may lead to hepatitis, cirrhosis and heart problems, according to Dr. Dunlap. The HSC Public Health Agency adds that hepatitis may lead to liver failure and death, while excessive drinking can lead to permanent scarring and liver damage, increasing the risk of liver cancer.
The Heart
High blood pressure increases the risk of suffering from a heart attack or stroke, and alcohol increases blood pressure, according to the HSC Public Health Agency. Alcohol weakens the heart muscles, ultimately affecting other body systems such as the lungs, brain and liver; this can result in heart failure. The site also states that both binge drinking and drinking large amounts over long periods of time can cause the heart to beat irregularly.
Dr. Dunlap agrees, stating that irregular heartbeats, also known as arrhythmias, are frequently treated in emergency rooms after many days of partying.
Reproductive System
According to Virginia Tech, alcohol can have both short-term and long-term effects on the reproductive system for both males and females. While initially alcohol may lower your inhibitions and decrease your sexual anxiety, in larger doses it interferes with your ability to achieve an orgasm and causes temporary impotence.
In the long term, alcohol reduces testosterone levels in men, resulting in both testicular shrinkage and impotence. In females who are chronic drinkers, loss of libido make occur, along with infertility and menstrual cycle irregularities.
