The Short & Long Term Effects of Alcohol

Responsible drinking poses almost no risk of dangerous health problems occurring in healthy people. However, when it comes to alcohol abuse, the list of harmful effects seems never ending. In addition to becoming addicted, long term and short term alcohol abuse may result in the onset of a slew of diseases, financial destitution, and societal consequences.

However, when it comes to alcohol abuse, the list of harmful effects seems never ending. In addition to becoming addicted, long term and short term alcohol abuse may result in the onset of a slew of diseases, financial destitution, and societal consequences.

In addition to becoming addicted, long term and short term alcohol abuse may result in the onset of a slew of diseases, financial destitution, and societal consequences.

The Effects of Alcohol
When consuming large amounts of alcohol, the effects can include: reduced inhibitions, dulled mental processes, slowed reaction time, lack of coordination, and overall poor judgment. Consuming a large amount in one sitting can lead to death (can cause respiratory failure.)

Alcohol and Driving
Alcohol is essentially a depressant which affects your vision, reaction time, coordination, judgment, ability to multitask and make good decisions. There’s no way you can drive safe when you can’t even see, think, or react quickly?

There’s no way you can drive safe when you can’t even see, think, or react quickly?

Alcohol impairs the judgment of situations which are dangerous and warps good decision-making abilities. It slows reaction times making driving the worst thing to do while drunk.

It also muddles your perception of speed and distance.

This means that even one drink can render you an unsafe driver. You must have quick reflexes, accurate perception, good decision-making and multitasking abilities to drive safely.

Short-Term Effects of Alcohol Abuse
A hangover is undoubtedly a universal short-term effect of alcohol. These symptoms often include a headache, nausea, fatigue, diarrhea, thirst, and sensitivity to light and noise.

Other hangover symptoms include:

• Blackouts
• Alcohol Poisoning
• Sleep Disruptions
• Ataxia

Small Amounts Of Alcohol In A Short Period Can Cause:

• Reduced coordination
• Lowered inhibitions
• Poor concentration
• Tension relief
• Slow reaction time/reflexes

Medium Amounts Of Alcohol In A Short Period Can Cause:

• Poor vision, Slurred speech
• Sleepiness, erratic emotions
• Disruption of sleeping patterns
• Increased urination
• More blood flow to skin surface
• Drop in core body temperature

Large Amounts Of Alcohol In A Short Period Can Cause:

• Vomiting, Passing out
• Breathing difficulties
• Uncontrollable urination/defecation
• Alcohol poisoning/Possible death

Long-Term Effects of Alcohol Abuse

• Fetal alcohol syndrome during pregnancies
• Upsets normal brain development
• Cirrhosis of the liver/Liver damage
• Dying brain cells decrease brain mass
• Brain Damage
• Destroyed organs/intestinal ulcers/Stomach ulcers
• High Blood pressure; leading to stroke, heart disease, or heart attack.
• Cancers of the mouth, (esophagus, pharynx, tongue), breast, rectum, and skin
• Kidney disease
• Lower sperm count
• Reduced levels of vitamin B and iron, leading to anemia
• Alcoholism
• Severe withdrawal, when not supervised by medical professionals, can be lethal
• Financial Difficulties – making poor financial decisions to support alcoholism
• Destroyed Relationships.
• Death

Overall Effects of Alcohol

The negative effects of abusing alcohol are limitless. Truth is, alcohol abuse and alcoholism are damaging all around the board. The physical, the mental and the social aspects of a person’s life are all dramatically affected when it comes to alcohol addiction. It wrecks relationships and brings on heat from legal problems.

Getting Help for Alcohol Addiction
Regardless if the alcohol abuse occurred only during a few months or years, getting help the moment you recognize there’s a problem is vital. The sooner you get help the sooner you can start recovering from alcohol abuse and its deadly effects.