Harmful Effects
Harmful Effects of Alcohol on the Brain
- Mild euphoria
- Loss of inhibition
- Extreme mood swings
- Emotional outbursts
- Depression of the nerve cells dulling and damaging their
ability to respond
- Large amounts of alcohol case sleep, anesthesia, respiratory
failure, coma, and even death
- Long term drinking may cause permanent brain damage, serious
mental disorders, and addiction
Harmful Effects of Alcohol on Lungs
- Breathing may stop with large doses of alcohol, causing
death
- Lower resistance to infection
Harmful Effects of Alcohol on Liver
- Inflammation of the liver cells (alcoholic hepatitis) is
possible with heavy drinking leading to irreversible
lesions, scarring, and ultimate destruction of liver cells
(cirrhosis)
- Impairs liver’s ability to remove yellow pigment, and
jaundice occurs
- Fluid build up in extremities (edema)
- Decrease of production of blood clotting factors, leading to
possible hemorrhaging
- Accumulation of fat in liver causing liver failure, coma,
and even death
Harmful Effects of Alcohol on Reproductive System
- Impairing and deterioration of sexual functioning, sometimes
resulting in irreversible impotence and infertility
- Increases risk of developing breast cancer
- Drinking during pregnancy, there is a significant increase
in delivering a child with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (small
head, brain damage, abnormal facial feature, poor muscle
tone, speech and sleep disorders, retarded growth and
development)
Harmful Effects of Alcohol on Central Nervous System
- Impaired visual ability
- Unclear hearing
- Dulled smell and taste
- Loss of pain perception
- Altered sense of time and space
- Impaired motor skills
- Slowed reactions
- Impaired sexual performance
- Numbness in extremities
Harmful Effects of Alcohol on Eyes
- Distorted vision
- Unable to adjust to light
- Red eyes
- Pinpoint pupils
Harmful Effects of Alcohol on Ears
- Inability to distinguish between sounds
- Unable to perceive direction of sounds
Harmful Effects of Alcohol on Mouth
- Slurred speech
- Dulling of taste
- Reduction of desire to eat
Harmful Effects of Alcohol on Throat
- Irritation and damage of esophagus lining
- Severe vomiting
- May cause hemorrhaging, pain, and cancer
- Difficulty swallowing
Harmful Effects of Alcohol on Heart
- Heart muscle is weakened in ability to pump (cardiomyopathy)
- Heart enlargement
- Abnormal heart signs, irregular beat
- Increase in blood pressure
- Risk of heart attack and stroke
- White and red blood cell production is inhibited
Harmful Effects of Alcohol on Muscles
- Weakening of muscles and atrophy
- Pain and muscles spasms
- Tenderness may occur in muscles as well
Harmful Effects of Alcohol on Stomach
- Irritation of stomach lining
- Ulcers
- Inflammation
- Bleeding lesions
- Cancer of the stomach
Harmful Effects of Alcohol on Pancreas
- Risk of chronic inflammation
Harmful Effects of Alcohol on Intestines
- Irritation of intestinal tract and colon
- Chronic drinking results in inflammation, ulcers, and cancer
- Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, sweating, and loss of appetite
may occur
- Small intestine is unable to process nutrients and vitamins
Harmful Effects of Alcohol on Bones
- Bones become weak because alcohol interferes with body’s
ability to absorb calcium
- May cause osteoporosis (soft, brittle, thin, weak bones)
