The Effects of Heavy Alcohol on the Body

The effects of heavy alcohol can be looked at in several time frames: heavy consumption on one occasion, or heavy consumption over a period of months or years. Both have negative effects. Alcohol is high in calories and void of nutrition, and it disrupts virtually every sensory, digestive, endocrine, and cardiovascular system in the body.

Short-Term Effects

• The effects of heavy alcohol consumption on one occasion, defined as binge drinking, depends on the size and chemical tolerance of the drinker and the volume of alcohol. Short-term impairments include slurred speech, dizziness, vomiting, inability to drive, and poor judgment. Heavy doses of alcohol cause dehydration and hangovers -- headache, thirst, and nausea -- the next morning.

Liver Damage

• Heavy alcohol consumption is most taxing on the liver. The liver produces the enzyme dehydrogenase, which breaks down alcohol in the bloodstream traveling to the brain. Ingesting large amounts of alcohol overworks the liver, which begins to develop fatty deposits. "Fatty liver" is the first sign of liver deterioration in heavy drinkers.

Brain Damage

• Alcohol consumption affects short- and long-term memory. It can cause "blackouts" of time spent drinking, and long-term lapses in everyday cognitive memory. More serious brain diseases such as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, similar to psychosis, can be debilitating for many alcoholics. Lastly, but probably most important, is the development of psychological and physical addiction to alcohol.

Other Complications

• In addition to liver and brain damage, alcohol can be a factor in developing arthritis, cancer, heart disease, fetal alcohol syndrome, hyperglycemia, hypoglycermia, malnutrition, anxiety, depression, insomnia and obesity. Alcohol disrupts the efficiency of the body's immune system and weakens overall general health and strength, which can lead to the intrusion of other ailments.