Long-Term Effects of Alcohol on the Body

Whether it’s early on in health class, through family experiences, or in sporadic

doctor visits, many of us learn that excessive drinking is ‘bad for you’ at a young age.
However, we often only have a vague understanding of why. Learning more about the
specific impact alcohol has on the body’s organ systems can provide a helpful, and
even life-changing perspective. While the harmful effects of alcohol can be
disconcerting, healing and risk-reduction is within reach. Working with a physician can
help you create a personalized plan for making a change. 
Drinking too much over time can cause chronic physical and mental health
issues. Heavy drinking can cause or contribute to liver damage, cardiovascular
disease, and multiple types of cancer.

Long-term effects of excessive drinking may include:

 Diminished gray matter and white matter in the brain
 Memory loss
 Loss of attention span
 Trouble learning
 Alcoholic hepatitis.
 Liver fibrosis.
 Steatosis (i.e., fatty liver disease).
 Throat, mouth, larynx, breast, liver, colorectal, or esophageal cancer.
 High blood pressure.
 Cardiomyopathy.
 Stroke.
 Irregular heartbeat.

Binge Drinking
Binge drinking is a dangerous practice that can cause physical harm. The
National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) classifies binge drinking as
a drinking pattern that leads to a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of 0.08 g/dL
and above. For adult women, that’s typically around 4 drinks (5 for adult men) within a
couple of hours of each other.
Alcohol Poisoning
Binge drinking can lead to alcohol poisoning. Alcohol poisoning occurs when the body
has consumed more alcohol in a short period of time than it can process. The toxic
effects of alcohol overwhelm the body and can lead to impairment and some even more
serious medical side effects, including death in severe cases.
Signs of alcohol poisoning include:
 Confusion
 Nausea and vomiting
 Slowed or irregular breathing
 Cyanosis, or a blue-tinted skin
 Pale skin
 Low body temperature, or hypothermia
 Unconsciousness
 Seizures

It is extremely important to call 911 if you feel a person is experiencing alcohol

poisoning. Alcohol poisoning can cause permanent brain damage and even death.
A person’s BAC can keep rising after they stop drinking and even after they pass out.

Effects of Alcoholism on the Body

Alcoholism is an addiction to the consumption of alcoholic liquor or the mental
illness and compulsive behavior resulting from alcohol dependency. Alcoholism and
chronic heavy drinking are associated with many serious health problems. Below are
some of the ways alcohol may affect the body:
1. Liver health risks: One of the possible severe medical consequences of chronic
alcohol abuse is liver disease. Over time, with consistent alcohol abuse, the liver
may become inflamed and/or scarred. Conditions such as fatty liver, alcoholic
hepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis may develop. A person may also develop
liver cancer.
2. Digestive system risks: Alcohol can wear down the lining of the stomach and
increase the production of stomach acid, which can contribute to ulcers. Alcohol
may also alter nutrient breakdown, absorption, transportation, storage, and
excretion, leading to nutrient deficiencies and/or trouble fully using
nutrients. For example, thiamine deficiency is common and can lead to serious
neurological issues. Alcohol can also impair blood sugar control.
 3. Pancreatic health risks: Alcohol prompts pancreatic production of harmful
substances, which can lead to pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the
pancreas that impairs digestion.
4. Brain health risks: Thiamine, or vitamin B1, deficiency associated with chronic
heavy drinking can lead to Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome or ‘Wet Brain’.
Symptoms may include confusion, impaired coordination, learning problems, and
memory difficulties. Liver disease can also harm the brain, resulting in symptoms
such as sleep changes, alterations in mood, personality changes,
depression, anxiety, impaired concentration, and incoordination. Too much
alcohol may also hinder new brain cell growth.
5. Cardiovascular health risks: Drinking alcohol has complicated impacts on
cardiovascular health. In 2016, alcohol-related CV diseases caused an estimated
593,000 deaths globally. Consuming too much alcohol is linked to high blood
pressure, irregular heartbeat, trouble pumping blood through the
body, blood clots, stroke, cardiomyopathy (sagging, stretched heart
muscle), or heart attack. Excessive alcohol use, both directly and through
malnutrition, can also lead to anemia.
6. Reproductive health risks: Consuming too much alcohol can lead to
reproductive problems, including erectile dysfunction and irregular
menstruation. Both men and women may have reduced fertility with long-term,
heavy drinking. Women who drink while pregnant are at increased risk for
miscarriage, stillbirth, or having a child with a fetal alcohol spectrum
disorder (FASD).
7. Musculoskeletal health risks:  Alcohol abuse can cause a calcium imbalance
in the body, which is an important nutrient to maintain healthy bones.
Consuming too much alcohol can also cause a disruption to the production of
vitamin D, which is needed for calcium absorption. Lack of calcium increases
the risk of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis increases the risk of bone fractures, which
can cause serious pain and disability.

The long-term effects of drinking refer to the ways in which prolonged alcohol
consumption alters our wellbeing over an extended period of time. These changes
can be harder to recognize since they often develop gradually over the years and
include increased risk of various diseases and cancers. Learning about the long-term
effects of alcohol and speaking with your physician can help prevent more severe
damage and reduce alcohol-related risk. 
So how exactly can heavy alcohol use affect someone in the long-term? Here’s what to
consider as you reflect on your own relationship with alcohol.
Long Term Effects of Alcohol Use

1. High Blood Pressure

Drinking alcohol can raise blood pressure due to the alcohol itself, and also the
sugar and calories that are often in alcoholic drinks. Up to 16% of all individuals with
consistent medical high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, are diagnosed
due to heavy drinking.
2. Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy
Unhealthy alcohol use can cause a change in shape and loss of motion in the
lower chambers of the heart, which is a medical condition called alcoholic
cardiomyopathy. This condition affects blood circulation, which can lead to other
health problems. 
3. Increased Risk of Blood or Brain Disease 
Unhealthy alcohol use is one of the most consistent factors that increases the
likelihood of developing a blood or brain vessel blockage disease, respectively
called coronary artery disease and cerebrovascular disease. These conditions have
very serious consequences and can even manifest as heart attacks and strokes when
blockages prevent blood flow to the brain or heart.
4. Liver Disease
Heavy drinking can affect the liver, which is our body’s natural detoxifying organ.
Alcoholic liver disease is a spectrum of disease that includes steatosis, where an
excess of fat builds up in the liver, and alcoholic hepatitis, where liver cells are
chronically inflamed. The most severe form of liver disease is alcoholic cirrhosis,
which is where fatty liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue and can no longer function.
Liver damage can lead to irreversible symptoms including jaundice, swelling of legs
and abdomen, internal bleeding, fever, brain fog, and nausea.
5. Risks to Respiratory Ability and Pneumonias
Alcohol use suppresses the neurological pathway of the brain that is
responsible for our natural inhalation and expiration function, which is why excessive
drinking can lead to breathing issues. 
Unhealthy alcohol intake can also inhibit the respiratory tract’s natural system for
eliminating pathogens, making someone who drinks heavily much more prone to
different types of bacterial, fungal, and viral pneumonias. Lastly, in some severe
cases of liver cirrhosis, fluid can build up in the chest cavity and impair respiration. 

6. Kidney Damage
Our kidneys help regulate our body’s natural fluid balance through what’s called
the renal system. Heavy fluid intake, such as excessive amounts of alcohol, can
disturb this natural functioning. Binge drinking and other heavy drinking habits can
overwhelm the renal system and cause fluid and chemical imbalances, which are
characterized by symptoms like dizziness, fatigue, weakness, and can lead to more
serious health consequences. 
7. Gastrointestinal Consequences
Another long-term consequence of unhealthy alcohol use is a chronic irritation
of the delicate lining of the gastrointestinal tract. This can lead to various dangerous
and even life-threatening complications including esophageal tears, bleeding, and
hemorrhoids.
8. Alcoholic Pancreatitis
The pancreas is an organ in the middle abdomen. Relatively new research
reveals that the pancreas aids the liver in metabolizing and detoxifying alcohol.
However, binge drinking can be toxic to the delicate pancreas cells and cause a
painful condition called alcoholic pancreatitis. Alcoholic pancreatitis symptoms
include abdominal pain, nausea, vomiting, and more. 
9. Chronic Diarrhea
Our intestines normally reabsorb nutrients and remove waste. However, when
the intestines become irritated and inflamed by too much alcohol, they lose their
efficiency, which manifests as chronic diarrhea.
10. Increased Risk of Gastrointestinal Cancers
Drinking heavily over an extended period of time is a strong risk factor in a number of
cancers connected to the digestive system including:
 Tongue
 Mouth
 Pharynx (throat)
 Larynx (voice box)
 Esophagus
 Stomach 
 Pancreas
  Colon
 Liver
The likelihood of developing one of these cancers also depends on an individual’s
genetic factors, health conditions, and other lifestyle habits, such as smoking tobacco.
11. Loss of Memory 
50-70% of people who drink heavily are found to have varying degrees of
cognitive impairments. This includes alcohol-related dementia. The severity of this
form of dementia is “dose-dependent,” meaning a person who drinks five drinks daily
will typically have fewer symptoms than someone who drinks ten drinks daily.

Memory blackouts are also a side effect of binge drinking and heavy drinking, which can
put an individual’s safety at risk.

12. Damage to Nerve Tissue 

Excessive alcohol use can lead to a serious form of peripheral nerve damage
called alcohol-related neuropathy. This condition develops due to the toxic effects of
alcohol, and the nutrient deficiencies associated with unhealthy alcohol consumption.
This form of alcohol-related brain damage often feels like a tingling in the ends of the
limbs and feet and can result in a loss of mobility and/or the ability to carry out normal
bodily functions.
13. Head Injury from Accidents While Under the Influence
Alcohol impairment can lead to serious falls or vehicular collisions resulting in
traumatic brain injuries. In fact, 52% of people admitted to the hospital with a
traumatic brain injury have a measurable amount of alcohol in their system when they
arrive at the emergency room. 
14. Headaches and Migraines
Any amount of alcohol can cause an increased risk of headaches, with
symptoms worsening with greater consumption. Wine-drinking, in particular, is a
common trigger for migraine headaches because of factors like dehydration,
histamines, and sugar.
15. Chronic Shakes and Tremors
Along with alcohol withdrawal-related shakes and tremors, unhealthy alcohol use
can also cause chronic movement disorders and postural tremors. Unlike the
shakes and tremors associated with alcohol withdrawal, these disorders may not
improve after stopping alcohol intake because of the toxic effects of alcohol on delicate
nerve cells.
16. Increased Risk of Sleep Disorders
Most people are aware that alcohol can negatively affect sleep quality.
However, the connection between alcohol and various sleep disorders is often lesser
known. Studies show that people with unhealthy drinking habits have a higher risk of
developing a nightmare disorder and sleep apnea. They are also three times more
likely to develop periodic limb movement disorder.
17. High or Low Blood Sugar
Alcohol is high in “empty calories,” meaning it lacks nutrients. Because of
this, heavy drinkers are particularly susceptible to sudden periods of low blood
sugar, or hypoglycemia. Alcohol also suppresses the body’s natural responses to
when it senses low blood sugar starting to occur, which makes these dips more frequent
and severe.
Conversely, unhealthy drinking can also cause high blood sugar. The pancreas
normally releases insulin, which helps the body respond to high blood sugar. Alcohol,
however, inhibits this function of the pancreas, which leads to high blood sugar or
hyperglycemia. This can also eventually result in a form of diabetes related to pancreas
dysfunction.
18. Dysregulated Hormones
Alcohol can have a negative effect on many important hormones. Firstly,
unhealthy drinking habits can lower dopamine levels and decrease endorphins
over time. The way extended alcohol use depletes these “happy hormones” can
exacerbate or cause mental health conditions like anxiety and depression.
Drinking also impacts the sex-related hormones of testosterone and estrogen. Drinking
can lower testosterone levels and cause sexual dysfunction. This can also create a
negative correlation between alcohol and sex drive. Alcohol consumption can also raise
estrogen levels. This can deregulate menstrual cycles, cause or worsen infertility,
and most disconcertingly, be a risk factor for some estrogen-mediated breast
cancers.
19. Low Bone Density
Considering these hormonal dysregulations, unhealthy alcohol use can also
contribute to low bone density for older men and post-menopausal women. Low
bone density can increase the likelihood of osteoporosis, vertebral fractures,
wrist fractures, and hip fractures.
20. High Cholesterol 
Lastly, hormonal imbalances related to alcohol use can also deregulate
naturally occurring cholesterol in the body and contribute to high cholesterol,
which is a risk factor for heart disease. 
 It’s important to note that these are only some of the long-term health risks
associated with heavy drinking. This list is by no means exhaustive, and doesn’t include
short-term health risks, including alcohol withdrawal. The symptoms of alcohol
withdrawal can be dangerous and even life-threatening. If you think you’re experiencing
acute alcohol withdrawal symptoms, please seek medical attention immediately.