 alcohol
Drinking within the guidelines would normally minimise the risks to your health. However, the effects of drinking at hazardous levels can go unrecognised. The more your drink above the recommended guidelines and the more often you do, the greater the health risks. You may recognise some of the more immediate effects on your health including stomach problems, headache, nausea, sleeping difficulties, depression and sexual impotence. The problem is that the short term can easily become the long term. You may therefore be risking your health in the following, and perhaps surprising ways. Drinking outside recommended guidelines, could risk your health in a number of ways. EffectsSome of the effects happen in the short-term and others are the result of heavy drinking over a longer period of time: General- weight gain
- mood and personality changes
- drink related accidents
- feeling anxious or ‘nervy’
- missing work due to hangovers, headaches
- family arguments
- impotence
Heart- high blood pressure
- irregular pulse
- damaged heart muscle
Liver- impaired liver function
- severe swelling and pain
- inflamed liver (hepatitis)
- largely irreversible scarring (cirrhosis)
- liver cancer
Muscles- weakness
- loss of muscle tissue
Stomach- lining becomes inflamed
- bleeding
- ulcers
Brain- memory loss
- confusion, disorganisation
- hallucination, fits
- permanent brain damage
- impaired ability to learn new things
Nervous System- loss of sensation in hand and feet caused by damaged nerves (tingling)
Pancreas- painful inflammation
- bleeding
Intestines- inflammation
- bleeding
- ulcers
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