Effects of Alcohol Consumption
Short-term effects Even at low concentrations, alcohol can
stimulate areas of the brain. The areas that get stimulated
include the cortex, hippocamus and nucleus accumbens. These are
responsible for the processes of thinking and pleasure seeking.
Alcohol is rapidly absorbed by the stomach, especially if it is
empty, and quickly enters the individual's blood stream, thus
penetrating all the tissues. A variety of factors influence its
effects, including age, sex , size and weight of the person
consuming alcohol.
Since it stimulates the pleasure seeking areas of the brain,
alcohol tends to make people shed their inhibitions in social
situations. They tend to be more enthusiastic in their speech
and movements. Other effects of moderate consumption are body
relaxation, dizziness and talkativeness. When taken in slightly
larger quantities, slurred speech, nausea, vomiting and
interrupted sleep can occur. Individuals may begin to display
aggressive behavior, commit domestic violence and indulge in
child abuse. A person who may have consumed even low quantities
of alcohol, should be prevented from driving, as it
significantly impairs the coordination and judgment required to
drive a car.
A hangover is another effect of moderate to large quantities of
alcohol intake. Headache, nausea, thirst, fatigue and dizziness
are felt by an individual who is suffering from a hangover.
Long-term effects Heavy intake of alcohol, over a long period of
time, can lead to alcohol addiction, also known as alcoholism.
If an alcoholic suddenly stops consuming alcohol, severe
withdrawal symptoms such as intense anxiety, tremors,
hallucinations and convulsions will occur. Alcoholics tend to
ignore their nutrition. Alcoholism, coupled
with inferior nutrition, can lead to very severe or even
permanent damage to vital organs of the body including the brain
and liver. Women who consume alcohol during pregnancy may give
birth to babies with fetal alcohol syndrome. They may be
mentally retarded and/or suffer from physical abnormalities that
are irreversible. Moreover, genetic factors are known to raise
an individual's risk of becoming an alcoholic. Hence, the
children of mothers who drink alcohol during pregnancy are more
likely to become alcoholics later on in life.
Other long term
effects of alcohol include inflammation of the pancreas,
coronary heart disease, damage to the nerves, or neuropathy,
brain degeneration, increased risk of a variety of cancers,
liver cirrhosis and of course, damage to one's personal and
professional life.