• Most adults are aware of the outward effects of alcohol consumption. Balance, coordination, and judgment are all reduced. • All of these physical attributes occur because of the influence of alcohol upon the brain and nervous system. • Alcohol alters our neurotransmitters. These neurological signals control our thought processes and emotions.
Neurotransmitters
• Relative to other body systems, excessive alcohol use can have damaging effects upon the cardiovascular system. • This generally increases the workload for the heart, often leading to arrhythmia, inflammation, cardiomyopathy, hypertension, and more. • These risk factors are centralized in your heart activity, leaving your body at risk for heart disease and stroke.
• Alcohol’s effect on the central nervous system impairs cognitive activity like memory, reasoning, and judgment. In extreme cases, blacking out may occur. • Motor skills and coordination are also impaired, which include our basic senses like vision and hearing. Prolonged alcohol use acts as a depressant to these senses, often leading to potentially fatal dangers like motor accidents or falls. • In addition, long-term effects upon the nervous system through excessive alcohol use can include dementia and memory loss.
• The effects on the cerebral cortex from excessive alcohol use can include poor judgment and lack of coordination; this can distort the individual’s ability to manage speech, alertness, and other sensory activities. • Ingested at high levels can cause vomiting, breathing difficulties, and possible coma. The abuse of alcohol generally leads to varying amounts of brain damage, vitamin deficiency, and other brain diseases. • Brain size reduction is also a known symptom of excessive alcohol consumption. In some cases, heavy drinkers can have seizures from alcohol withdrawal which may be a symptom of brain shrinkage.
• Alcohol abuse can damage every organ of the digestive system. Excessive use can put the individual at risk of mouth cancer, as well as gum disease. This risk is greatly increased with the addition of cigarette use. • This same risk is associated with the esophagus, which can also potentially weaken blood vessels within the esophagus, causing rupturing and severe bleeding. • Stomach inflammation and irritation is also a known effect of prolonged alcohol use upon the body. Other symptoms like perforation of the stomach lining can contribute to the possible occurrence of anemia as well.
• While many believe that alcohol enhances sexual performance, the reality is that alcohol, acting as a depressant, damages the reproductive system for both men and women. • Menstrual irregularities from heavy alcohol use may cause the failure to ovulate for women; an absence of the menstrual period is known as amenorrhea.
• For men, the loss of the libido, or sexual desire, may follow. In fact, the rise of blood alcohol levels can cause impotency in many cases. Impaired judgment can cause an overall disregard for personal safety which puts both sexes at risk to sexually transmitted diseases.
• Another health risk associated with the overconsumption of alcohol is the damaging of the bones. Younger adults during adolescence are especially at risk of developing osteoporosis and weakened bones. • Excessive alcohol consumption can cause the stomach to not adequately absorb calcium, therefore interfering with the pancreas and Vitamin D intake that the body requires. • The continual consumption of alcohol in large amounts can heighten your risk of bone fracture and nerve damage.
• The effects of alcohol upon the medulla, or brain stem, causes potential damage to an individual’s heart rate, temperature, and breathing. This tends to induce sleepiness for drinkers, and with excessive use, can lower the body temperature to a dangerous level. • In fact, consuming an excessive amount of alcohol in colder climates may put the individual at risk for hypothermia. • Many of the fatal effects of alcohol overdose are associated with the medulla’s function over temperature and breathing.
• The initial step towards detoxification and treatment is recognizing a drinking problem. This can be done through the consultation of a professional health care provider. • Utilizing resources found by calling the National Drug and Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service: 1-800-662HELP can help give you additional support or information needed to recognize an alcohol problem. • If you are local to Southern California, Yellowstone Recovery is also an excellent place to start. We can be contacted at 1-888-941-9048.
• For the past 17 years, Yellowstone Recovery has been proud to offer patients in-depth, comprehensive, and affordable alcohol and drug rehab programs in California to over 5,000 men and women. • From detoxification to group counseling and job placement assistance, Yellowstone Recovery provides a complete and continuous care plan, developed specifically for the patient’s own needs. We also offer diverse financing including PPO insurance plans for our clients. • For more information, please feel free to visit us today at
http://www.yellowstonerecovery.com.