How Alcohol Interferes With Your Critical Functions
Heavy drinking, whether it is done in one sitting (binge drinking) or over time can be detrimental to your health. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), excessive alcohol use can affect nearly every organ including your:
- Brain
- Heart
- Liver
- Pancreas
Alcohol can change your mood and behavior, it can affect your coordination making it more difficult to walk, ride a bike, or operate a motor vehicle. Furthermore, alcohol use has been linked to stroke, high blood pressure, and an irregular heartbeat.
Drinking too much also affects your immune system. A weakened immune system can leave you more susceptible to getting sick or contracting certain diseases. Additionally, it may be difficult for you to “ward off infections.”
Finally, alcohol can increase your risk of developing certain kinds of cancer including:
- Head and neck cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Liver cancer
- Breast cancer
- Colorectal cancer
The dangers of drinking too much alcohol are clear. Whether it is excessive alcohol use in a single sitting or over time, it can mean serious consequences for your overall health. Binge drinking is considered as five or more drinks for men within two hours and consuming four or more drinks within two hours for women.
As noted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excessive alcohol use happens with any age group, binge drinking is more common with young adults including those between the ages of 18 and 34 years old. Men are more likely to binge drink than women and it is more common among higher-income earners with higher education levels.
If you are struggling with excessive alcohol use there are options for treatment. You are not alone. Now is the time to seek help.