Excessive alcohol consumption leads to a wide range of physical and mental problems. Alcohol affects the nervous system primarily and at first typically results in euphoric feelings. As the drinking progresses, however, more and more of the body's functions become impaired. Speech and muscle coordination become compromised. Medical complications include kidney damage, diabetes, heart complications, birth defects and vision difficulties. The skeletal system becomes affected in a number of ways.
Osteoporosis
Alcohol interferes with a number of bodily functions and reduces healthy cell formation. Healthy bones rely on continued cell production and blood circulation. When bones don't receive nourishment, osteoporosis can develop, leading to fragile bones. Weak bones are more susceptible to fractures.
Nutritional Deficiencies
Alcoholics have a high risk of developing nutritional deficiencies because of alcohol's effects on nutrient absorption as well as the lifestyle that often accompanies the disease of alcoholism. When they don't eat properly, alcoholics' glucose levels drop, affecting bone production. Additionally, according to the Alcohol Rehabilitation Center, alcohol interferes with the absorption of calcium, vital for proper bone health. The immune system becomes compromised following excessive alcohol consumption, leaving alcoholics at greater risk of developing infections that can affect all the systems in the body.
Estrogen Production Reduced
Even moderate drinking can affect estrogen production, according to a group of doctors at Loyala University in a study published by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. In teenage girls, low levels of estrogen have a direct impact on the reproduction system. Estrogen also plays a significant role in bone formation. Teens going through puberty can experience lifelong effects on their skeletal and reproductive systems due to drinking.
Accidents
The correlation between accidental injuries and drinking has been recorded since ancient Egypt. Drinking accounts for a great number of automobile accidents and falls. Balance is impaired when you're drunk, so excessive drinkers are at greater risk of fractures from falls because of the weak skeletal system. Alcohol abuse brings with it both immediate and long-term risks to the skeletal system. When decision-making is impaired during an alcoholic episode, accidents are more likely to take place. Over the long term, fragile bones may cause skeletal weakness even when you are sober.
