While pouring themselves a drink might fill an individual with a sense of ease, such indulgence begins to take its toll on the body in the long run. After being processed by the blood stream, ethanol does not only affect the brain but other parts of the body, which people do not associate with alcohol consumption. Although some of the effects may be noticeable on a personal level, namely, the sudden change in mood or irritability over time, more severe conditions start developing underneath. The liver is fighting off the toxins making their way into the body, while the heart is trying to keep up with its irregular rhythm affecting the sleep cycle, even if the person does not pass out. Cellular activities in the body begin changing, with some malfunctioning, leading to drastic weight loss or sudden forgetfulness. Nerves and other essential systems begin to deteriorate with the amount of ethanol consumed and the duration of drinking. What has initially been used for enjoyment, however, begins shaping the person’s reality. Recognizing such changes can allow one to mitigate further risks and reduce the damage done through heavy consumption.
The Liver As Your Body’s First Line Of Defense
After fat is absorbed within the liver, fatty liver begins developing. If alcohol abuse continues, liver inflammation, also known as alcoholic hepatitis, takes place. After the behavior has persisted for a prolonged period of time, scar tissue begins forming in place of healthy cells, resulting in cirrhosis of the liver if not stopped in time. The damage done to the liver is permanent, as the body cannot repair cells that have undergone such transformation, lowering the organ’s efficiency. One can no longer keep the liver healthy and as efficient as before, with the negative influence of heavy drinking taking its toll on the body for the rest of one’s life. The effects of cirrhosis may not be apparent until jaundice or swelling occurs.
The Heart And Its Delicate Balance
Although many understand the potential risks associated with alcohol abuse referring to the heart, little is said about how exactly ethanol consumption affects the organ. In fact, there are reports suggesting that occasional drinking in moderation contributes to positive effects on the body. However, continuous use of ethanol in higher doses leads to thinning of the heart muscles, affecting the circulation of blood and contributing to cardiomyopathy. When the heart is no longer capable of maintaining an effective pace, fluid retention throughout the body occurs.
The Brain As The Central Nervous System
The most apparent sign of alcohol poisoning is the perception of thoughts, as the intoxicated person begins experiencing the changes on a personal level. Although some may refer to such symptoms as waking up in unfamiliar places, losing consciousness is only a minor aspect of alcohol abuse. In fact, ethanol consumption affects the transmission of signals from one neuron to another, disrupting the balance within the central nervous system. With heavy drinking, the ability to think clearly deteriorates as the person behaves unpredictably with delayed responses on a regular basis.
With continuous and severe intoxication, higher functions of the brain, such as remembering things are impacted as well, resulting in alcohol abusers forgetting entire conversations from earlier in the day that they have no recollection of. In extreme cases, where alcohol consumption has been a prevalent activity for an extended period of time, a Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome may develop due to nutritional deficiency, which leads to permanent memory loss, delusions, and hallucinations.
The Pancreatic System And Its Various Causes
Unless one has been experiencing difficulties remembering things or losing consciousness after heavy drinking, few are concerned with the effects alcohol has on the pancreas. With continuous use of ethanol, the functionality of the pancreatic system begins deteriorating as enzymes are no longer produced by the body. Inflammation can occur, resulting in severe upper abdominal pain that takes a considerably long time to heal. Pancreatitis, which is the result of chronic heavy drinking, is the leading cause of ethanol-related dysfunction of the pancreatic system, interfering with the production of enzymes.
The Kidney Function And Its Ability To Endure
One of the primary functions of the kidney is to maintain an appropriate balance of fluids within the body while eliminating waste. While ethanol consumption negatively affects the water-salt balance, excessive use of alcohol only adds to the burden on the organ. In high amounts, alcohol abuse causes the body to rid itself of fluids resulting in a continuous urge to empty the bladder. When heavy drinking continues over an extended period, kidney functionality begins to deteriorate as the body is unable to endure the frequent and harmful stress. Conditions such as an inability to retain electrolytes in the body can develop as well, resulting in additional health issues.
As the liver is responsible for eliminating toxins from the body, its dysfunction will inevitably result in further complications affecting other organs, most notably the kidney. For example, cirrhosis of the liver can lead to hepatorenal syndrome, which in turn causes the kidney to malfunction as well. Since the liver can no longer rid the blood of toxins, the responsibility is partially undertaken by the kidney, which becomes overburdened as well. The damage done to the liver is not the only reason why the kidney is affected by heavy drinking, as ethanol consumption contributes to the deterioration of the urinary system directly.
Alcohol Consumption And A Path To Recovery
Heavy drinking in either occasional or persistent patterns takes its toll on the body, while affecting the individual on a molecular level. For example, the liver begins to malfunction as fat is being converted into ethanol after consuming alcoholic beverages. Although it is possible to repair the liver after ceasing alcohol consumption, the process is gradual as the organ undergoes a lengthy rehabilitation. As the heart begins to beat erratically, the irregular pattern affects a person’s sleep cycle, even if they are not intoxicated at the moment. Upon awakening from sleep, an individual feels as if they have not rested at all, experiencing fatigue due to poor quality of rest. The brain, which has been the central nervous system of the body, is desensitized to the effects of ethanol, meaning that a person no longer experiences the same pleasure from drinking as they used to before persistent usage of alcohol. As the organ’s functionality begins deteriorating, so do other aspects, such as the person’s ability to be sensible at times, as impulsiveness is increasing due to their heightened emotions. The neurons responsible for processing such sensations also begin malfunctioning, which is evident when an alcoholic experiences memory loss. The pancreas is no longer capable of sustaining essential functions as enzyme production is hindered by heavy drinking. As the kidney attempts to eliminate more toxins, the burden placed on the organ is doubled as fewer poisons are expelled from the body. Even the natural protection mechanisms of the body are detrimental to the already damaged system as immunity to various diseases develops at a quicker pace, as if exposed to foreign substances in higher amounts. The gradual wear and tear of the organ tissue is evident to those witnessing an alcoholic, as they slowly cease performing the same functions, much like stone structures crumbling down over time. By addressing the issue early when alcohol abuse has taken its toll, as well as receiving the adequate treatment, an individual can extend their life and prolong the functioning of the various systems previously affected.
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