Theo Nash
Alcohol is a drug that affects almost every part of your body, including your brain, bones, and heart. Drinking alcohol can cause short-term effects like hangovers, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and indigestion, as well as long-term health problems such as an increased risk of several types of cancer, mental health conditions, and injuries. The morning after a night of heavy drinking, you are likely to still have high levels of alcohol in your bloodstream, which can impair your ability to drive and perform other tasks. Alcohol also has diuretic effects, increasing urine production and dehydration, which can contribute to hangover symptoms like headaches. The impact of alcohol on the body depends on various factors, including age, gender, weight, and the type of alcohol consumed.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Alcohol's effect on the body the next day | High concentration of alcohol in the bloodstream, which may cause impaired coordination, drowsiness, dehydration, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, indigestion, and risk of alcohol poisoning |
| Alcohol's long-term effects on the body | Increased risk of several types of cancer, including head and neck cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer; acute respiratory distress syndrome; bacterial pneumonia; respiratory syncytial virus infection; myopathy or muscle wasting; gout; impaired bone fracture repair and reduced bone density; pancreatitis; mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression; weight gain and obesity |
| Alcohol's immediate effects on the body | Increased heart rate, expanded blood vessels, impaired coordination, altered mood and behaviour, impaired judgement and decision-making, reckless and uninhibited behaviour, aggression |
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What You'll Learn
Alcohol can remain in your system the next day
The amount of alcohol in your blood increases with each drink, and it can take 30 to 40 minutes for the levels to peak even after you've stopped drinking. The more alcohol you consume, the higher the concentration of alcohol in your bloodstream, and the more pronounced its effects. Alcohol affects your brain, kidneys, lungs, and liver. It slows down the communication pathways in your brain, impacting your mood, behaviour, judgement, and coordination.
The rate at which alcohol is absorbed into your bloodstream depends on various factors, such as whether you have food in your stomach, your body weight, and the type of mixer you use. A lower body weight causes you to feel the effects of alcohol more quickly, as there is less tissue to absorb the alcohol. Mixing alcohol with water or fruit juice slows absorption, while mixing with fizzy drinks or carbonated mixers accelerates it.
The immediate and long-term health risks of excessive alcohol consumption are well-documented. It increases the risk of developing several types of cancer, including oral, pharynx, larynx, oesophagus, liver, colorectal, and breast cancer. Even small amounts of alcohol are linked to an increased risk of certain cancers. Alcohol misuse also affects the pancreas, leading to pancreatitis, which impairs digestive enzyme production and blood sugar regulation. Additionally, alcohol increases the risk of myopathy or muscle wasting, bone fractures, and recurrent gout attacks.
The effects of alcohol can linger the next day, impairing your physical and mental capabilities. It is important to be aware of the potential risks and adverse effects of alcohol consumption to make informed decisions about your health and well-being.
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Alcohol negatively impacts your physical and mental health
Alcohol has a wide range of adverse effects on almost every part of your body, including your brain, bones, heart, liver, kidneys, lungs, gut, pancreas, peripheral nervous system, and immune system. Even small amounts of alcohol are linked to the development of certain diseases, including numerous cancers. Research has shown a strong scientific consensus that alcohol drinking can cause several types of cancer, including head and neck cancer, oral cavity cancer, pharynx cancer, larynx cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer. The more alcohol a person drinks, the higher their risk of developing an alcohol-associated cancer.
Alcohol also affects the brain, influencing mood and behaviour and making it harder to think clearly and move with coordination. Drinking alcohol can increase the risk of stroke and can also lead to mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression. Alcohol can interfere with the brain's communication pathways and affect the way the brain looks and works. These disruptions can change mood and behaviour and impair judgement and decision-making.
In addition to the immediate effects of a hangover, such as dehydration, nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and indigestion, alcohol can also have long-term health risks. Alcohol misuse is associated with an increased risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome, bacterial pneumonia, and respiratory syncytial virus infection. It increases the risk of myopathy or muscle wasting, fractures, and recurrent gout attacks. Alcohol also impairs bone fracture repair and reduces bone density, weakening bones and increasing the risk of fractures or breaks.
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Alcohol increases the risk of cancer and other diseases
Alcohol consumption can have detrimental effects on both your physical and mental health, even in small amounts. The immediate effects of drinking too much alcohol can include injuries, violence, alcohol poisoning, overdose, and unprotected sex, which can lead to sexually transmitted infections or unplanned pregnancies.
The long-term effects of alcohol consumption are more severe and include an increased risk of developing several types of cancer and other diseases. Alcohol misuse is associated with an increased risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome, bacterial pneumonia, and respiratory syncytial virus infection. Drinking also increases the risk of myopathy or muscle wasting, fractures, and gout attacks. Additionally, alcohol impairs bone fracture repair and reduces bone density.
Alcohol consumption is also linked to an increased risk of cancer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen, indicating that it is a cancer-causing substance. The National Toxicology Program of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services also lists alcohol consumption as a known human carcinogen. Research has found a strong correlation between alcohol consumption and an increased risk of various cancers, including head and neck cancer (oral cavity, pharynx, and larynx cancers), breast cancer, colorectal cancer, liver cancer, and oesophageal cancer. Even moderate consumption can increase cancer risk, and the risk increases with the amount of alcohol consumed. For example, women who have just one drink per day have a higher risk of breast cancer than those who drink less frequently.
Alcohol consumption can disrupt cell cycles, increase chronic inflammation, and damage DNA, which can lead to uncontrolled cell growth and cancer development. It can also affect hormone levels, such as estrogen, which plays a role in breast cancer development. Additionally, alcohol interferes with the absorption of nutrients that protect against cancer, including vitamins A, B, C, D, E, K, and folate, as well as minerals like iron and selenium.
The link between alcohol consumption and cancer risk is significant, with alcohol contributing to about 5.5% of all new cancer diagnoses and 5.8% of cancer-related deaths. Doctors can play a role in cancer prevention by discussing alcohol use with their patients and offering behavioural counselling to those who drink excessively. It is important to note that the less alcohol consumed, the lower the risk of alcohol-related harm, and for some individuals, abstaining from alcohol may be the safest option.
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Alcohol negatively impacts your social life and behaviour
Additionally, alcohol misuse can lead to long-term social implications, such as the development of mental health conditions like anxiety and depression, which can significantly impact your ability to function in social situations. Alcohol can also contribute to social isolation and relationship difficulties. It can strain relationships with friends, family, and romantic partners, leading to conflict, violence, or emotional distance.
The effects of alcohol on the brain can further impact your social behaviour. Alcohol interferes with the brain's communication pathways and can affect its structure and function. These disruptions can make it challenging to think clearly, coordinate your movements, and control your impulses, potentially leading to socially inappropriate behaviour.
Furthermore, alcohol misuse can lead to alcohol dependence and withdrawal symptoms, which can severely impact your social life. The severity of withdrawal symptoms, such as tremors, agitation, and seizures, can increase with each episode of abstinence, making it challenging to maintain social commitments or engage in everyday social interactions.
Finally, alcohol can negatively impact your social life by increasing the risk of accidents and injuries. Alcohol slows down the messages sent between your central nervous system and your body, impairing coordination and increasing the likelihood of accidents, such as falls, motor vehicle crashes, or sports injuries, which can have long-term consequences for your health and social participation.
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Alcohol negatively affects your liver, brain, bones and heart
Alcohol has a negative impact on the liver, brain, bones, and heart, and can affect your health over the next day. Here's how:
Liver
Alcohol consumption, especially in excessive amounts, can lead to liver damage. Almost all heavy drinkers develop fatty liver disease, the earliest stage of alcohol-related liver issues. This condition is reversible if treated early, primarily by abstaining from alcohol. However, if left untreated, it can progress to alcoholic hepatitis, where the liver becomes inflamed, swollen, and its cells are destroyed. In severe cases, this inflammation can be life-threatening. Continued alcohol abuse can further progress to cirrhosis, which can lead to fatal liver failure or liver cancer.
Brain
Alcohol interferes with the brain's communication pathways, affecting balance, memory, speech, and judgment. Long-term heavy drinking can lead to structural and functional changes in the brain, including reductions in neuron size. Adolescent brains are particularly vulnerable to the negative effects of alcohol, and misuse during this stage can result in long-lasting changes in brain structure and function. Additionally, binge drinking can lead to alcohol-induced blackouts, where there are gaps in memory for events that occurred during intoxication. In extreme cases, excessive alcohol consumption can result in an alcohol overdose, where areas of the brain controlling vital functions like breathing and heart rate begin to shut down, potentially leading to permanent brain damage or death.
Bones
Excessive alcohol consumption negatively impacts bone health. Alcohol interferes with the body's ability to absorb calcium from food and can disrupt the function of the parathyroid hormone, which regulates calcium levels. This calcium deficiency stimulates bone-removal cells while hindering bone-building cells, leading to accelerated bone density loss and an increased risk of osteoporosis. Additionally, the stress hormone cortisol, which is elevated with alcohol consumption, also adversely affects bone-building cells.
Heart
Regular binge drinking and long-term alcohol abuse are associated with an increased risk of heart disease. Alcohol consumption can lead to cardiomyopathy, where the heart muscle is damaged and cannot function optimally. It also increases the likelihood of developing high blood pressure, type 2 diabetes, and obesity, all of which are risk factors for heart and circulatory diseases. Alcohol can also negatively interact with certain medications, including those for diabetes and blood clots, impacting their effectiveness or causing side effects.
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Frequently asked questions
A hangover is a short-term effect of alcohol consumption. It is caused when your liver is unable to remove all the alcohol from your body overnight. The excess alcohol in your system can upset your digestion, leading to symptoms like nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, and indigestion. Alcohol is a diuretic, so it also increases urine production, which can lead to dehydration and severe headaches the next day.
Alcohol consumption is associated with an increased risk of developing several types of cancer, including breast cancer, head and neck cancer, and colorectal cancer. The risk increases with the amount of alcohol consumed and the frequency of consumption. Even low levels of alcohol intake are linked to a higher risk of certain cancers. Alcohol misuse is also linked to an increased risk of acute respiratory distress syndrome, bacterial pneumonia, and other respiratory infections.
Alcohol can have both short-term and long-term effects on the body. The morning after a night of heavy drinking, you may still have high levels of alcohol in your bloodstream, impairing your ability to think clearly and coordinate your movements. You may also experience dehydration, nausea, and headaches. Prolonged alcohol misuse can lead to weight gain, obesity, and bone density issues.
