Alcohol consumption can take a toll on one's physical and mental health over time. These effects can be more severe and noticeable if a person drinks regularly and have been consuming alcohol for many years.
Symptoms include repeated alcohol consumption even after contacting health issues. Those with alcoholism may begin each day with a drink, feel guilty about their drinking pattern and quantity and have the desire to cut down on the amount of drinking and fail to do the same each time.
People who consume more than 80 ml of alcohol daily for over 10 years are at a high risk of developing alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis which can lead to painful deaths. In an exclusive interaction with Onlymyhealth, Dr. Richa Sareen, Pulmonology, Fortis Hospital, Vasant Kunj explains the short term effects of alcohol on a human body. Temporary affects you may notice while drinking alcohol (or soon after) may include:
- Feelings of drowsiness and disorientation
- Mood changes
- Increased reaction time
- Impulsive behavior
- Slow or slurred speech
- Nausea and vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Headache
- Changes in hearing, vision and perception
- Loss of coordination
- Trouble concentrating or making decisions
- Loss of consciousness or gaps in memory (often called blackouts)
Long-term effects of frequent drinking
Over time, excessive alcohol use can lead to the development of chronic diseases and other serious health problems. These health hazards may include high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems. Cancer of the breast in women, mouth, throat, esophagus, and rectum cancers. A few other long time effects of frequent drinking can be:
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- Alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis of liver
- Malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies
- Persistent mood changes, including anxiety and irritability
- Insomnia and altered sleep pattern
- Risk of aspiration
- A weakened immune system, which means you may get sick more often
- Changes in libido and sexual function
Frequent, regular, or heavy drinking interferes with chemicals in the human brain that are vital for good and sane mental health. So while we might feel relaxed and at leisure after a drink, in the long run alcohol has a severe and negative impact on mental health which ca lead to feelings of depression and anxiety, and make stress harder to deal with. Psychological effects of frequent alcohol intake can contribute to:
- Alcohol-induced mental health conditions
- Dependency
- Alcohol withdrawal syndrome