Long-term effects of alcohol on the brain:

Alcohol has many negative short- and long-term effects on the brain. Some of the short-term effects are memory loss, cognitive impairment, and distorted vision. Alcohol has negative effects on the brain and well-being in particular. According to the National Alliance on Mental Illness, one-third of those struggling with alcohol abuse also have a mental disorder (known as co-occurring disorder). Because even though alcohol is depressing, it releases dopamine (a 'feel-good' chemical) in your brain that causes a momentary feeling of pleasure or pleasure. This is one reason why alcohol can become so addictive.

Alcoholism can lead to mental illnesses such as sadness, anxiety, and sleep disturbance over time. Prolonged use of alcohol over a long period of time can have a wide range of effects on the brain, including changes in the structure and function of the limbic system, cerebellum, and cerebral cortex. This causes a decrease in brain function. Other studies have linked chronic alcohol use to brain degeneration and dementia.

Effects of alcohol on the kidneys over time:

The kidneys are a pair of organs that regulate pH, produce hormones, and excrete toxins such as waste and alcohol. Drinking too much alcohol reduces the ability of your kidneys to purify your blood.

Your kidneys are also responsible for keeping your body hydrated. Drinking too much alcohol can dehydrate your system, affecting the function of your kidneys and other vital organs.

Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to low blood pressure, which increases your risk of kidney disease. Up to two hours after drinking an alcoholic beverage, your body will experience a sudden increase in blood pressure. Alcohol intake causes a persistent increase in blood pressure over time.

Long-term effects of alcohol on the liver:

Your liver is important in your body as it performs hundreds of vital processes on a daily basis, including bile formation, cholesterol, hormone excretion, and enzyme activation. According to the National Institutes of Health, alcohol was linked to 47.8% of 83,517 liver disease deaths in 2018 among those aged 12 and over. Large, malignant health problems can occur in the liver, which filters and breaks down alcohol in the body. Meaning.

Your liver is responsible for filtering out toxins such as alcohol. However, there is a limit to how much alcohol can be filtered at any one time. It takes about an hour for the body to metabolize each alcoholic drink. If you drink too much alcohol, it spreads through your circulation and travels to various parts of your body, including your brain and heart. Like people drinking or not drinking.

Excessive drinkers, who drink heavily five or more days a month (four drinks for women and five drinks for men), are more likely to develop a fatty liver than non-drinkers. Fortunately, fatty liver can be reversed if you stop drinking alcohol in the early stages.

In addition, excessive alcohol consumption can lead to the development of alcoholic hepatitis, which can lead to irreversible damage to the liver, such as scarring or cirrhosis, or even death. If you are genetically predisposed to this condition then alcohol consumption increases the risk of liver disease.

Should I worry about the health consequences of consuming alcohol?

Moderate alcohol consumption may be part of a healthy diet, but it is important to understand the negative effects of chronic alcoholism (drinking more than the recommended daily amount).

Excessive alcohol consumption can cause many health risks over time. That is why it is so important to see your doctor regularly and to be honest and clear about how much ***** you are eating so that any health issues can be detected in advance. Regular health check-ups and blood tests can detect early signs of disease in the brain, kidneys, and liver. If you live in Connecticut and need to find a doctor, use our searchable directory to find a board-certified PACT primary care physician near you.