Many adults partake in a glass of alcohol occasionally. In moderation, drinking alcohol can be a fun social activity when shared among people. However, when alcohol is consumed in large quantities over a long period of time, it can lead to serious health issues. The long term use of alcohol has been linked to several conditions, some of which are fatal.
Brain Issues
Alcohol is a major contributor in mental issues. This is due to the effect of alcohol on the brain. One of the most important ways our brain repairs itself and the body is through sleep. Alcohol does not allow the brain to enter its natural rhythms, disrupting sleep. If sleep is disrupted often enough, soon mental issues like anxiety or depression may develop. If the condition gets serious enough, the person may begin to entertain thoughts of suicide. The Mental Health Foundation reports that 65 percent of people who commit suicide have been consuming alcohol prior to the act.
Alcohol also affects the memory. Imbibing for a long period of time may result in that Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome. This syndrome, caused by a vitamin B1 deficiency, is a permanent disorder which is characterized by confusion and memory loss. People with this syndrome will sometimes invent memories to explain away gaps.
Organ Damage
Long term alcohol use also negatively affects the organs. The organ most at risk of this is the liver. The function of the liver is to filter out poisons and break them down. With long term alcohol use, the liver loses the ability to do this. When this happens, the body is prone to nausea, vomiting, weight loss, fever and loss of appetite. If the drinking is severe enough, it can lead to cirrhosis, an incurable condition where liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue, rendering the liver less effective overall.
Alcohol can also be a contributing factor to pancreatitis. This condition affects the pancreas which produces insulin and aids the body in digestion. When a person's pancreas is affected, it can lead to malnutrition, and, in serious cases, diabetes.
Serious Damage
Alcohol is one of the leading causes of cancer. Long term alcohol use can use can lead to cancers of the mouth, throat, liver and stomach. If the person who drinks is also a smoker, they run a greater risk of one of these cancers.
People who have been drinking for a long period of time also run the risk of a stroke. As the alcohol causes the body to get dehydrated, the blood in the brain begins to get thicker, making it more susceptible to clotting, a major contributor to a stroke. Alcohol also raises your blood pressure over time, which is another stroke risk factor.
