The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that more than 80,000 deaths each year are due to excessive alcohol use. When used in moderation, one or two drinks each day, the body can deal with the effects of alcohol. More than that and your body can be overwhelmed. Learn what is “excessive” and what extreme alcohol consumption does to your body. How Your Body Processes Alcohol Alcohol is not digested by your body like food. Some of it is absorbed into the bloodstream through your stomach. That's why you can feel the effects of a drink so quickly. The rest is absorbed by the small intestine. Once the alcohol is in your blood, the liver tries to break it down. When there is a lot of alcohol in your body, the liver can't keep up, and the excess begins to circulate to all of the other organs. When alcohol is regularly absorbed by these organs, it can start doing some serious damage. If you are a healthy individual and consume more than two or three drinks per day, your body can't process the alcohol fast enough to prevent damage to these organs. This can cause direct and indirect damage to your body in a number of ways. The only way to prevent this is to reduce your alcohol consumption to a level that your body can manage. Liver Disease When your liver is busy processing alcohol, it can't process other substances that your body needs, such as vitamins and fat. The fat builds up in the liver, damaging its cells. If not reversed, liver cells will die. This results in what’s called cirrhosis, a permanent condition where your liver stops functioning. Diabetes As the liver fails, your blood sugar levels fluctuate. If your levels go too high, diabetes can set in. Because alcoholic beverages are high in calories, excessive alcohol can also result in weight gain, another risk factor for diabetes. Diabetes itself causes a number of complications, including heart disease and vision loss. This indirect impact of alcohol on you can create a domino-effect of health issues. heart disease High levels of regular alcohol consumption can damage the heart muscle, create an abnormal heartbeat, and cause high blood pressure. The weight gain that is a risk factor for diabetes is also a risk factor for high blood pressure. Much like diabetes, high blood pressure causes damage to several areas of your body, including your heart and kidneys. Immune System Over time, alcohol reduces your ability to absorb nutrients that your immune system requires, such as vitamin A. With a compromised immune system, you’re less able to fight off illness and infections. Fertility Issues Regular alcohol consumption reduces the fertility of both men and women. It can disrupt a woman’s cycle of egg production and reduce the man’s sperm count. Reduce Intake and Reduce Risk Drinking too much alcohol increases your chances for a number of health issues. Reducing your consumption can help you reduce your risks while still allowing you to enjoy a drink every once in a while. If you are a regular drinker, make an appointment with your doctor for an evaluation. Catch any health issues that may be brewing before they become irreversible. Source
