Consequences of alcohol

Long and short term effects of alcohol consumption

The short-term effects of alcohol can be quite beneficial and not always negative. Most adults will experience no ill effects from a drink or two, even if they drink every day and remain light drinkers.
It is when the number of servings consumed increases and alcohol tolerance develops thatthe problems begin. Alcohol abuse can lead to addiction, diagnosed as alcoholism.

The long-term consequences of alcohol abuse include domestic violence, drunk driving and other destructive behaviors.

Short-term effects of alcohol

A drink corresponds to a glass of wine, liqueur or a can of beer. This level of consumption is completely safe and can even reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and alcoholic dementia. The short-term effects of higher doses vary based on the drinker's weight, gender, and other factors, including alcohol allergy. The positive effects of alcohol are undeniable. They include a sense of deep calm and relaxation that neurotic people crave. Tension usually decreases, the person becomes less focused, reflexes slow down, response times increase, and coordination deteriorates. All of these effects are caused by the slowing of brain activity and begin to manifest 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 any underlying medical condition.

The short-term effects of alcohol include:

• Abdominal pain, nausea or diarrhea:Alcohol irritates the stomach lining, causing these effects. Note that these symptoms may indicate the development of alcoholic gastritis.
• Relaxation:Most people feel calmer and happier when drinking, so many turn to alcohol when stressed or sad. They become more lively and talkative.
• Visual and hearing impairment:Alcohol is a depressant and slows down the nervous system itself. As the central nervous system controls motor and cognitive functions, people will exhibit longer reaction times. The most pronounced effects include confused speech, blurred vision, and muffled hearing. Sometimes these effects of alcohol can also occur after a drink, so combine alcohol and driving.
• Tiredness, sleepiness:is part of the calming effect of alcohol. The sleepiness begins after the initial euphoria has passed. However, the opposite effect, called alcoholic insomnia.
, is also possible
• Poor self-control, blurred thinking:By altering the functioning of the central nervous system, alcohol makes a person less restrained and more prone to behaviors that may seem unusual. They 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 consequences of alcohol consumption include "early risers" when people are denied service in restaurants, if they are drunk and fighting.
• Memory impairment:The effects of alcohol consumption on memory are well known and are also caused by reduced nervous system activity. Violations can provoke alcohol blackouts, when a person does not remember the events that occurred after drinking. Another terrible side effect is delirium tremens.
• Mood Swings:the initial "cheerfulness" gradually fades, giving way to depression. This sometimes causes people to keep drinking and mood swings can occur. Sometimes they are very serious: Depression in alcohol-dependent people can lead to suicide attempts with varying results. Renowned chef and TV host Anthony Bourdain, who battled drug and alcohol 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 excessive drinking for a short period of time - 4 or more drinks in one sitting. Alcohol poisoning occurs when the blood alcohol level reaches toxic levels, resulting in hangover symptoms that are more likely to occur when drinking a low-quality beverage. Alcohol poisoning is a medical emergency and fatal if left untreated. The following symptoms may appear:

• Mental confusion or stupor, person does not hold his head, feels depressed;
• Unconscious;
• Convulsions;
• Low body temperature or vice versa;
• Tremors or chills;
• Pale, cold, bluish skin;
• Irregular or slow breathing;
• Development of 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, hypertension, decreased sexual activity in men, and loss of sexual desire in women or pancreatitis. Over time, people who drink alcohol can develop cognitive impairments. Side effects of this habit include irritability and increasingly poor performance at work due to alcohol. Alcohol abuse negatively affects the kidneys, causing severe damage. Long-term abuse can cause liver cirrhosis, a severe liver disease that in many cases requires a liver transplant. Many people in the country die from cirrhosis.

The danger of drinking alcohol is much higher.

Other long-term effects also include the so-called dry intoxication syndrome, in which a person experiences the effects of alcohol poisoning without consuming alcohol at all. With long-term alcohol consumption, people develop tolerance as the body becomes more accustomed to alcohol. This forces them to consume dangerously large amounts of alcohol without suffering the short-term effects that would otherwise lead to discontinuation.

Effects of alcohol on women

Alcohol affects women differently than men. Gone are the days when it was believed that only men had alcohol problems. Today, more and more women are abusing alcohol: statistics show that millions of women in the country drink in a way considered dangerous to their safety, health and well-being. According to 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 appears to be a purely male problem, and obviously it is not.

The side effects of alcohol on the bodymasculine and feminine are noticeably different. According to experts, binge drinking and chronic binge drinking expose women to much higher health and safety risks than men. Women who get drunk more than twice their chances of being sexually or physically abused. The data show that over 50% of 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 consume different amounts of alcohol are more likely to divorce than those who drink in comparable amounts. This was especially true of relationships where the wife was a passionate alcoholic. The impact of alcoholism on women is more pronounced. Long-term alcohol consumption is much more dangerous to women's health - women are more likely to die of liver cirrhosis or suffer from brain, heart or breast cancer. Babies of women who drink during pregnancy are at risk of being born with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), a lifelong developmental disorder that manifests itself with abnormal facial features, stunted growth, alcohol-induced brain damage, and emotional disturbances.

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, as alcohol is high in calories and damages the pancreas, which secretes insulin;
  Long-term alcohol abuse can also cause learning difficulties and memory problems. This increases the risk of developing mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.
• Another major problem associated with persistent alcohol abuse is the so-calledwithdrawal syndrome:symptoms become more and more severe each time a person consumes ethanol. Alcohol also damages nerve cells, causing irreversible polyneuropathy.

Most of the long-term negative effects of alcohol are related to health, but there are exceptions. Sexual assault, rape that occurs after severe alcohol intoxication, aggravated aggravation, reckless driving, and drunk robbery or theft affect loved ones, friends and even complete strangers with whomcome into contact. The physical and cognitive impairment due to 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 correct signals to the body when it is getting used to the long-term effects of alcohol. When a person becomes addicted, they continue to drink, regardless of any physical or psychological symptoms caused by the drinking. Additionally, a person who becomes addicted will continue to drink even if they suffer from job loss, panic attacks, break up with family, or are arrested for alcoholic behavior. They also face a greater risk of becoming addicted to other drugs because they crave more than the alcohol carries. Failure to rationalize and lose inhibitions also makes people more likely to experiment with illegal drugs and leads to many of the social consequences of alcohol addiction.

Addiction is a physical disorder that requires 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 rehabilitation facility, where patients are 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 a hospital rehabilitation center, patients receive intensive therapy and counseling to find positive ways to cope with the stress that has led to alcohol abuse. Treatment begins immediately after the detoxification ends. These treatment programs last a minimum of 30 days. They can last up to a year. The best rehabilitation centers are found in quiet and peaceful areas where patients can focus on their recovery. Therapists at these alcohol rehabilitation centers recommend that patients continue outpatient treatment after their stay. It is also suggested that you join support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous, for example