Alcohol is among the most popular beverages which can influence the mood and mental state. Many held opinions about alcohol are that it impairs judgement, reduces shyness, self-awareness and promote actions without inhibition. There is no doubt that alcohol has attracted the writing of so many articles in the world today. Some articles express the health benefits of alcohol intake in moderation while some talk about its addictiveness and its toxicity when it is excessively consumed. The truth is not just that the health effects of alcohol are actually quite complex, but that they vary between individuals and depend on the amount consumed and the type of alcoholic beverage. Simply put, the health risks of alcohol are dependent on the category of alcohol being consumed and the level of consumption. But candidly, the health effects of alcohol are complex and serious on humans because it can give rise to the different health challenges like:
Cancer
Cancer is one of the serious diseases that can be caused by excess alcohol intake. It is the abnormal growth of cells. Alcohol consumers have the possibilities of having cancers of the mouth, throat and breast. This is because the cells covering the mouth and throat are directly exposed to the harmful effects of alcohol. An alcohol taker isn’t on a safe side even if s/he takes one drink per day: such a person still has a 20% increased the risk of mouth and throat cancer.
Birth Defects
The slightest intake of alcohol is an abuse of it during pregnancy because the foetus is for the most part vulnerable at the early time of pregnancy. It is hazardous to the in-growing child because it can lead to the cause of birth defects. Also, excess drinking at the early stage of pregnancy is particularly risky for a developing baby and may result in adverse effects on the development, behaviour, growth and intelligence of the child for a lifetime. It is globally believed that the abuse of alcohol abuse is one of the world’s most common reasons for birth defects.
Liver Disease
Excessive alcohol intake poses a serious threat to different parts of the human body’s systems, and the liver too is inclusive. This is because the liver processes alcohol itself into acetaldehyde, a substance that is poisonous and cancer-causing thus exposing both the liver and the body to the risk of damage. The excess intake of alcohol raises the danger of alcoholic fatty and a long-term inflammation, called alcoholic hepatitis which can result in scar tissue. Later, the scar may invade the liver and make it be inflexible. And when the liver fails in its functions to sustain life, there will be a failure in multiples of organs, and death lurks around.
Brain damage
Alcohol is a depressant to the central nervous system. It affects the neurotransmitters of the brain and tampers with the human cognitive functions, moods, emotions, and reactions. It is the reason for the difficulty in processing information. This results in unclear vision, memory irregularities, incoherent speech, staggering and decelerated response. Alcohol encourages risk-taking or violent behaviours. Hence, it suppresses the fear of consequences in personal actions since the serotonin and GABA receptors in the brain have been affected.
Heart Disease and Cardiovascular Damage
Excessive alcohol intake contributes to several cardiovascular disorders like angina, high blood pressure, heart failure. It can result in high blood pressure when it prompts the discharge of some hormones that narrows of blood vessels. Then the heart is in trouble. It also can heighten the possibility of ischemic stroke which is a deadly problem of alcoholism when the blood pressure fluctuations and increases in platelet activation.
