Vivian Marlowe
Alcohol can affect nearly every organ in the body, even at low amounts. The brain is the first organ to be impacted, followed by the kidneys, lungs, and liver. Even one drink can have an impact on cognitive function, leading to slurred speech, blurred vision, and impaired memory. Heavy drinking can cause long-lasting changes in brain structure and function, and can also affect the developing brains of adolescents and young adults. Alcohol also impacts the liver, metabolism, gut, pancreas, cardiovascular system, and immune system. It increases the risk of muscle wasting, recurrent gout attacks, and bone fractures, while also reducing bone density. Alcohol misuse can lead to pancreatitis, which causes dangerous inflammation in the pancreas. It can also interfere with kidney function, either directly or as a consequence of alcohol's effects on other organs.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Organs impacted | Liver, brain, kidneys, lungs, gut, pancreas, cardiovascular system, immune system, endocrine system, muscles |
| Brain impact | Interferes with the brain's communication pathways, impacting balance, memory, speech, and judgment |
| Liver impact | Steatotic liver disease, liver fibrosis, cirrhosis |
| Kidney impact | Impaired kidney function, electrolyte imbalances |
| Lung impact | Increased susceptibility to lung infections, severe lung injury |
| Gut impact | Kills good bacteria, allowing unchecked growth of bad bacteria, leading to digestion problems and inflammation |
| Pancreas impact | Pancreatitis, impaired production of digestive enzymes, blood sugar regulation issues |
| Cardiovascular impact | Increased heart rate, spikes in blood pressure, irregular heartbeats, weakened heart (cardiomyopathy) |
| Immune system impact | Weakened immune system, increased susceptibility to diseases and infections |
| Endocrine system impact | Disrupted hormones, contributing to thyroid diseases, abnormal cholesterol, reproductive issues, stress intolerance, diabetes |
| Muscle impact | Increased risk of myopathy or muscle wasting, higher odds of recurrent gout attacks, impaired bone fracture repair, reduced bone density |
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Brain function
Alcohol has a significant impact on brain function. Even moderate drinking can affect the brain, and the more alcohol is consumed, the greater the impact. Alcohol reaches the brain in just five minutes, and the effects are felt within ten minutes.
The brain releases dopamine and endorphins, which are linked to pleasure, so people often feel happier, less stressed, and more confident and sociable when drinking. However, reasoning and memory are also impaired, and this is due to the effect alcohol has on the brain's communication pathways. Alcohol interferes with the neurotransmitter glutamate, which is important for creating new memories, and this may be why some people experience blackouts.
The hippocampus, the part of the brain associated with memory and reasoning, is particularly affected by alcohol. Studies have shown that the more alcohol consumed, the greater the shrinkage in the hippocampus. This can lead to problems with memory and cognitive performance, and an increased risk of dementia.
The developing brain is especially vulnerable to the effects of alcohol, and misuse during adolescence and early adulthood can alter brain development, resulting in long-lasting changes to brain structure and function. Alcohol can also cause brain damage in a developing fetus, leading to a range of developmental, cognitive, and behavioral problems.
Heavy drinking can cause an alcohol overdose, where areas of the brain controlling vital functions such as breathing, heart rate, and temperature control begin to shut down. This can lead to permanent brain damage or death.
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Liver disease
Alcohol is directly toxic to the liver, but so are the byproducts of alcohol metabolism. When the liver breaks down alcohol, it creates a chemical called acetaldehyde, which damages DNA and prevents the body from repairing the damage. This is why at least six cancers are linked to alcohol consumption. The liver can only handle a certain amount of alcohol consumption while still functioning properly. After a short period of excessive drinking, the liver reaches what Dr. Boike calls "the tipping point". At this point, the liver can develop acute alcohol-related hepatitis, typically arising after a period of heavy binge drinking (about 12 drinks per day for a few weeks or months). This condition has a very high mortality rate of over 50%.
The liver is the largest organ inside the body and has several important functions. It makes bile, a fluid that helps break down food in the digestive tract. It metabolizes fats, proteins, and carbohydrates, turning them into energy. It breaks down and helps eliminate toxins created in the gut when digesting food, alcohol, or medication. The liver also makes and distributes proteins that fight off illness, prevent infection, and ensure blood clots correctly. It directs cholesterol and hormones to the rest of the body and stores glycogen (energy), vitamins, and minerals.
Fatty liver is the earliest stage of alcohol-related liver disease and the most common type. Fat builds up in the liver, causing it to stop functioning properly. This can lead to scarring of the liver (cirrhosis), which can result in fatal liver failure or liver cancer. About a third of people with fatty liver will develop a mild or moderate inflammation of the liver, known as alcoholic hepatitis. More serious and life-threatening inflammation of the liver can cause death. Around one in three people who develop acute alcoholic hepatitis will die from it.
Treating the liver for diseases caused by alcohol often involves treating an underlying addiction to alcohol. People who require treatment for alcohol-related liver diseases may be referred to an addiction medicine specialist and may benefit from mental health counselling. Many people with alcohol-related liver diseases may benefit from a liver transplant, but they must first recover from their alcohol use disorder and abstain from drinking alcohol.
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Kidney function
Alcohol impacts nearly every organ system in the body. Even a serving or two per day can increase the risk of certain cancers and other severe health problems. One of the organs affected by alcohol is the kidney.
The kidney is responsible for regulating the volume and composition of body fluids, including electrolytes such as sodium, potassium, and chloride ions. The rate of blood flow through the kidneys is usually tightly controlled so that plasma can be filtered, and the body can reabsorb the electrolytes it needs.
Binge drinking or chronic alcohol consumption can directly or indirectly interfere with kidney function. Heavy drinking can cause the kidneys to work harder, weakening their filtering ability. Alcohol also disrupts the kidneys' ability to balance fluids and electrolytes in the body, leading to dehydration, which in turn impairs the normal function of cells and organs, including the kidneys. Even those who consume just two drinks per day may have a higher risk of high blood pressure, a leading cause of kidney disease.
Chronic drinking can also lead to liver disease, which adds further strain on the kidneys. Liver disease can alter the blood flow to the kidneys, reducing their filtering ability. Investigators have observed alcohol-related changes in the structure and function of the kidneys, as well as impairment in their ability to regulate the volume and composition of fluid and electrolytes in the body. Alcohol can also disrupt the hormonal control mechanisms that govern kidney function.
It is important to note that occasional drinking, one or two drinks, usually does not harm kidney function. However, excessive drinking, more than four drinks a day, can seriously affect kidney health, especially if an individual already has kidney disease.
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Pancreas function
Alcohol misuse over time can lead to pancreatitis, a painful condition where the pancreas becomes inflamed. Pancreatitis can impair the production of digestive enzymes and affect hormones that regulate blood sugar levels. The pancreas is an organ that produces substances that support bodily functions, including digestion and metabolism.
Acute pancreatitis is the sudden onset of the disease, which can turn into chronic pancreatitis, a constant state of inflammation of the pancreas. Chronic pancreatitis is long-lasting inflammation that most often happens after an episode of acute pancreatitis. However, it can also be caused by drinking large amounts of alcohol over a long period, typically 5-10 years. The risk of developing alcoholic pancreatitis increases with the amount of alcohol consumed, indicating a direct toxic effect of alcohol on the pancreas.
The acinar cell, the major functional unit of the exocrine pancreas, is an enzyme factory that synthesizes and secretes digestive enzymes. Alcohol exposure predisposes the acinar cell to injury via a process called autodigestion, which occurs when digestive enzymes are prematurely activated within the cells. Pancreatic stellate cells have been identified as key effector cells in the regulation of pancreatic fibrosis, a process involved in the progression of acute to chronic pancreatitis.
Alcoholic pancreatitis is associated with increased sweat chloride levels, suggesting impaired CFTR (cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator) function. In alcoholic acute pancreatitis, pancreatic CFTR expression is reduced, while in alcoholic chronic pancreatitis, decreased membrane expression of CFTR is associated with increased CFTR expression in the cytoplasm. This suggests translocation of CFTR from the membrane to the cytosol and/or misfolding of proteins in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), leading to accumulation in the cytoplasm.
Genetic factors also play a role in the development of alcoholic pancreatitis. In Asian patients, carriers of the ADH1B*2 allele have a higher risk, while the ALDH2*2 allele confers a lower risk. In non-Asian populations, the ADH1C*2 allele is associated with a decreased risk. Additionally, polymorphisms in the CYP2E1 gene, which plays a role in alcohol oxidation, have been implicated, but no association with increased risk has been found when compared to alcoholics without pancreatitis.
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Immune system
Alcohol affects nearly every organ system in the body, including the immune system. Drinking too much alcohol can weaken the immune system, making the body more susceptible to diseases and infections. Binge drinking on a single occasion can slow the body's ability to ward off infections for up to 24 hours. Both acute and chronic heavy alcohol use can interfere with multiple aspects of the immune response, causing inflammation and contributing to alcohol-related organ damage.
Alcohol impacts the number and function of white blood cells, affecting the gut, lungs, and liver. It can also affect the cells within the airways, reducing their ability to remove mucus from the lungs, which can lead to a weakening of lung function over time. The lungs are particularly vulnerable to the effects of alcohol, and excessive drinking can impact the immune cells that protect them.
Research has also shown that alcohol can interfere with the body's immune defense against cancer. A fully functioning immune system is vital to the success of conventional chemotherapy. Alcohol consumption does not have to be chronic to have negative health consequences, as even acute binge drinking can affect the immune system.
Additionally, there is evidence that in utero alcohol exposure interferes with the developing immune system in the fetus, increasing the newborn's risk of infection and disease. The negative effects of alcohol on immune development can last into adulthood.
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Frequently asked questions
Nearly every organ is affected by alcohol. Some of the key organs impacted include the liver, brain, gut, pancreas, lungs, heart, and kidneys.
Alcohol can lead to steatotic liver disease, previously known as fatty liver disease. This occurs when fats build up in the liver, inhibiting fat oxidation. This can progress to liver fibrosis and eventually cirrhosis, which is permanent and irreversible scarring in the liver.
Even one drink can impact cognitive function, leading to slurred speech, blurred vision, and impaired memory. Alcohol interferes with the neurotransmitter glutamate, which is important for creating new memories, and this may be why some people experience alcohol-related blackouts.
