Long-term and short-term effects of alcohol use
The short-term effects of alcohol can be quite beneficial and not always negative. Most adults will not experience any side effects from drinking one or two drinks, even if they drink every day and remain light drinkers.
When the number of servings consumed increases and alcohol tolerance develops, they 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, alcoholic beverage or a can of beer. This level of consumption is completely safe and may even reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease and alcohol dementia. The short-term effects of higher doses vary with the weight of the drinker, gender, and other factors, including alcohol allergy. The positive effects of alcohol are undeniable. They include a sense of calm and deep relaxation that novice people desire. Tension usually decreases, the person becomes less focused, reflexes slow down, response time increases, and coordination deteriorates. All of these effects are caused by slowing down brain activity and begin to appear after drinking more than three or four drinks. In rarer cases, people can get hurt after drinking an alcoholic beverage, especially if it is their first alcoholic beverage or if they have any underlying medical condition.
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 they drink, so many turn to alcohol when they are stressed or sad. They become more lively and conversational.
- Impairment of sight and hearing:Alcohol is depressing and slows down the nervous system itself. Because the central nervous system controls motor and cognitive functions, people will exhibit longer reaction times. The most pronounced effects include blurred speech, blurred vision, and deaf hearing. Sometimes these effects of alcohol can appear even after a drink, so combine alcohol and driving.
- Fatigue, drowsiness:is part of the calming effect of alcohol. Drowsiness begins after the initial euphoria has passed. However, the opposite effect is also possible, called alcohol insomnia.
- Poor self-control, vague thinking:By impairing the functioning of the central nervous system, alcohol makes a person less restrained and more prone to behavior that may seem uncharacteristic. One is 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 they make war.
- Memory loss:The effects of alcohol consumption on memory are well known and are also caused by decreased nervous system activity. Violations can result in alcohol discontinuation when a person does not recall the events that occurred after drinking. Another terrible side effect is delirium tremens.
- mood swings:The initial "joy" gradually fades, giving way to depression. This sometimes causes people to stop drinking and mood swings can occur. They are sometimes very severe - depression in people addicted to alcohol can eventually lead to suicide attempts with varying results. Renowned chef and TV host Anthony Bourdain, who has battled alcohol and drug addiction, is a tragic example.
Consequences of alcohol: dangers and dangers
Some of the short-term effects of alcohol can be fatal, and alcoholics are particularly at risk. Multiple drinking is defined as excessive drinking for a short period of time - 4 or more drinks at a discount. Alcohol poisoning occurs when blood alcohol levels reach toxic levels, resulting in addiction symptoms that are more likely to occur when you drink a low-quality beverage. Alcohol poisoning is a medical and fatal emergency if left untreated. The following symptoms may occur:
- Mental confusion or stupidity, the person does not hold his head, feels depressed;
- Low body temperature or vice versa;
- Tremors or tremors;
- Pale, cold, bluish skin;
- irregular or slow breathing;
- Development of chronic diseases such as gout;
- Loss of bladder and bowel control;
Long-term effects of alcohol
Long-term effects of alcohol may include liver damage, depression, cancer, immune system disorders, hypertension, decreased sexual performance in men, and loss of sex drive 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 adversely affects the kidneys, causing serious damage. Long-term abuse can cause cirrhosis of the liver, a serious liver disease that requires liver transplantation in many cases. Many people in the country die of cirrhosis.The risk of juvenile drinking is much higher.
Other long-term effects also include the so-called dry intoxication syndrome, where a person experiences the effects of alcohol poisoning without consuming alcohol at all. With long-term alcohol use, people develop tolerance as the body learns more and more alcohol. This forces them to consume large dangerous amounts of alcohol without experiencing short-term effects that would otherwise lead to disruption.
Effects of alcohol on women
Alcohol affects women differently than men. Gone are the days when it was believed that only men have problems with alcohol. Today, more and more women are abusing alcohol - statistics show that millions of women in the country drink in a way that is considered dangerous to their safety, health and well-being. According to traffic authorities, a woman's blood alcohol level is high enough to increase her risk of a fatal car accident by 100% after drinking a drink on an empty stomach.
Drunk driving seems to be a purely male problem, and of course it is not.
Side effects of alcoholin the male and female body are markedly different. According to experts, excessive drinking and chronic excessive drinking put women at much higher health and safety risks than men. Women who drink more than double their chances of being sexually or physically abused. The data show that over 50% of the 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 for relationships in which the woman was an avid 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 cirrhosis of the liver or suffer from brain, heart or breast cancer. Children of women who drink during pregnancy are at risk of being born with fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), a lifelong developmental disorder that manifests as abnormal facial features, stunted growth, alcohol-induced brain damage, and emotional distress.
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 very 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-called withdrawal syndrome:Symptoms become more severe each time a person consumes ethanol. Alcohol also damages nerve cells, causing irreversible polneuropathy.
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 assault, careless driving, and robbery or theft committed during intoxication affect loved ones, friends, and even complete strangers with whom they come in contact. The physical and cognitive decline due to alcohol abuse is large per year.
Harmful effects of alcohol
Addiction occurs when the body cannot function optimally without alcohol. The brain cannot send accurate signals to the body when accustomed to the long-term effects of alcohol. When a person becomes addicted, he continues to drink, regardless of the physical or psychological symptoms caused by drinking. Moreover, a person who becomes addicted will continue to drink even if they suffer from job loss, panic attacks, separation from their family, or are arrested for alcohol-related behaviors. He also faces an increased risk of becoming addicted to other medications because they crave more than alcohol brings. Failure to rationalize and loss of inhibitions also make people more prone to experiment with illegal drugs and lead to many of the social consequences of alcohol dependence.
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 a hospital or outpatient rehabilitation facility, where patients are helped to achieve long-term stability. If anything, experts believe that the short-term and long-term effects of alcohol are more harmful than all other types of drugs.
Exposure to alcohol: treatments
At a hospital rehabilitation center, patients receive intensive therapy and counseling to help find positive ways to cope with the stress that has led them to alcohol abuse. Treatment begins immediately after detoxification ends. These treatment programs last a minimum of 30 days. They can last up to a year. The best rehabilitation centers are located in quiet, 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 to join support groups like Alcoholics Anonymous p. sh.