Effects of Alcohol

If you care for your loved ones, if you care for your health, then say NO to ALCOHOL. I implore you to read on. I decided to post this blog in reply to a query from one of us. A social drink. Drinking with responsibility. Connoisseur of wine. All these are fine examples of euphemisms. Remember I don’t practice what I preach! (that was in a lighter vein.)

Alcoholic beverages are valued on account of their flavour and their stimulating effect and hardly at all as a “health drink”. Nevertheless, the energy value of dry wine is about equal to that of milk. Alcohol is never a prescription.

With frequent use, the brain and nervous system become less sensitive to alcohol's effects. The body's increased tolerance to alcohol increases the level of the liver's enzymes that are used to break down alcohol. The activity of the brain and nervous system neurons increase too. This means that the body becomes more efficient at eliminating the high levels of alcohol in the blood.

However, it also means that more alcohol must be consumed to experience the same effects as before, which leads to more drinking and contributes to ADDICTION. The normal chemical and electrical functions of nerve cells increase to compensate for the inhibitory effects of alcohol exposure. It also causes irritability when deprived of alcohol. Furthermore, the increased nerve activity may induce a CRAVING for alcohol.

Beer provides one important nutrient group - the B vitamins. But there are better means of procuring the vitamin. It has been theorized that alcohol in moderate quantities can prevent the risk of heart attacks. But the harmful effects outweigh the beneficial effects. The adverse effects of long term alcohol intake are protean. I will try to list some of the few. Hope this scares you in a positive manner.

Brain&Nervous system: brain injury, loss of memory, confusions, hallucinations, tingling sensation in the arms and legs.

Gastro-intestinal system: inflamed lining, bleeding, ulcers, inflamed pancreas, swelling of the liver and pain, cirrhosis, hepatitis and liver cancer.

Skin & Muscles: weakness loss of muscle tissue, flushing, sweating, bruising.

Heart & Lungs: high blood pressure, irregular pulse rate, enlarged heart, greater chances of lung infections including tuberculosis.

Sexual Organs: Males: impotence, shrinking of testicles, damaged/less sperm count. Females: greater chances of gynaec infections and damage to the fetus if pregnant.