Alcohol and the body
Health effects of alcohol
Alcohol misuse can affect almost every part of the body. Alcohol can impact on the following organs (click one of the links to view):
- The liver
- The digestive system
- The heart and circulatory system
- The bones, skin and muscles
- The brain and nervous system
Other effects include:
The liver
Excessive alcohol consumption is the major cause of liver disease in Western industrialised countries and alcohol-related liver disease is responsible for 80% of liver admissions in hospitals in the UK.
The liver is responsible for metabolising alcohol. If the liver has to break down too much alcohol, its other functions are adversely affected and the organ can become damaged. There are three stages of damage: fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis and alcoholic cirrhosis.
Fatty Liver
Although symptoms of damage may not be apparent at this stage, fatty liver can be detected by liver function tests. Fatty liver may not progress to more severe damage, and can be reversed by the cessation of drinking. However it is an indicator that more permanent damage may occur in the future. Fatty liver is very common amongst heavy drinkers, but is also found in those drinking just above the recommended limits.
Alcoholic Hepatitis
About a third of people with fatty liver will develop alcoholic hepatitis. It is not clear why some people develop this condition while others who consume the same amount of alcohol do not. The onset of alcoholic hepatitis may be sudden and the symptoms severe. In other cases, the onset of the disease may be more gradual and the initial symptoms less severe. The onset of alcoholic hepatitis may be indicated by: loss of appetite, vomiting, severe abdominal pain and jaundice. Abstinence and a good diet may lead to full recovery in mild to moderate cases. Very severe cases can be fatal, and alcoholic hepatitis has a general mortality of 15-20% (15 – Heather et a/, 2001).
Alcoholic Cirrhosis
Approximately 20% of patients showing alcoholic hepatitis show additional cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is the result of continuous liver damage. Normally when the liver is damaged it can regenerate itself. In cirrhosis the process of healing fails and scar tissue develops, preventing the liver from carrying out its normal functions.
Cirrhosis is found in about 20% of heavy drinkers (15 – Heather et at, 2001). Again it is not clear why some drinkers are more susceptible to cirrhosis than others, although most experts agree that women are at higher risk than men after a shorter period of heavy drinking and at lower levels of consumption.
In some instances cirrhosis has no obvious symptoms, but can usually be detected by examination or in laboratory tests. Where symptoms are visible, they usually include: general ill health, flatulence, lack of appetite, sallow skin, jaundice, itching, anaemia, loss of weight, vomiting of blood, lower back pain and ascites (abdominal swelling due to accumulation of fluid). There may also be subtle mental changes leading to profound confusion and coma.
There is no cure for cirrhosis but sufferers who manage to stop drinking completely have a far better chance of survival. Those who continue to drink will go on to develop complete liver failure and a further 10% of sufferers go on to develop liver cancer, fatal in about six months. In 1999, over 4,700 people died from alcohol-related liver disease (1 7- Office of National Statistics, 2000) and 19,200 people were admitted to hospital with liver disease where alcohol was either a primary or secondary cause.
Liver transplants
Between 1996 and 2000, alcohol was the highest cause of liver transplant in the UK and Ireland, accounting for 13% of all liver transplants (18 – BLT, website). The long-term prognosis for liver transplant is good so long as abstinence is total. Those that have managed a long period of abstinence prior to transplantation have a better prognosis. The transplanted liver is more vulnerable to alcohol-related injury than the indigenous liver and cirrhosis can occur in a much shorter time period.
The digestive system (stomach, oesophagus and pancreas)
The damaging effects of heavy alcohol consumption are not limited to the liver; a high alcohol intake can also have negative effects on the rest of the digestive system.
Stomach
Gastritis is the inflammation of the stomach lining. There are two forms of gastritis – acute and chronic – both of which are common amongst heavy drinkers. Acute gastritis may be characterised by nausea, cramps, fever and vomiting (which may include blood where there is also ulceration). Chronic gastritis persists over a prolonged period and may have no obvious symptoms. Where they occur, symptoms of chronic gastritis may include: abdominal pain, heartburn, loss of appetite, loss of weight, nausea and vomiting.
Both forms of alcoholic gastritis can be cleared up quickly by avoiding alcohol. If it is left untreated, however, gastritis can be fatal. In 1999, 9 people died from alcoholic gastritis (1 7 – ONS, 2000). It is also worth noting that an inflamed stomach lining cannot absorb food or medicines effectively (see Malnutrition below).
The other major problem associated with the stomach is that of stomach ulcers. Alcohol can aggravate an existing ulcer and inhibit the healing process. Some researchers have indicated that the stimulation of gastric juices caused by alcohol may contribute to initial onset of an ulcer.
Oesophagus (gullet)
Excessive alcohol consumption can cause reflux, a process whereby digestive juices from the stomach are forced up into the oesophagus. As the oesophagus lacks the protective lining of the stomach, reflux causes a burning sensation, often referred to as heartburn. Reflux can cause oesophagitis (an inflammation of the lining of the oesophagus) and lead to ulceration at the junction of the stomach and oesophagus. Violent retching can cause tearing and bleeding.
Cirrhosis can cause scar tissue to block the flow of blood into the liver. This increases the pressure in the portal vein (portal hypertension) and causes veins in the oesophagus to become swollen and distended. These varicose veins are known as oesophageal varices. Ruptured varices bleed profusely and can be fatal.
Pancreas
The pancreas is responsible for the production of the enzymes required for digestion and of insulin – which is needed to control blood sugar levels. Pancreatitis is the inflammation of the pancreas. Alcohol is responsible for approximately 80% of acute pancreatitis cases and about half of chronic pancreatitis cases. Around 400 people die each year from alcohol-related pancreatitis. (1 7 – ONS, 2000). Acute pancreatitis is accompanied by attacks of extreme pain and vomiting, often triggered by a bout of heavy drinking. Heavy drinking young males are the predominant victims of acute pancreatitis. Between 3 and 8% of alcoholics suffer from acute pancreatitis, with nearly 10% of cases proving fatal (15 – Heather et al, 2001). Even if the condition is successfully treated, survivors may still suffer severe pain. Long-term heavy drinkers are most susceptible to chronic pancreatitis. The symptoms of chronic pancreatitis are similar to those that accompany the acute form. The prognosis, however, is worse. The ten-year survival rate for chronic pancreatitis is less than 50%, and about half of patients with chronic pancreatitis also develop diabetes (1 7 – OM, 2000).
The heart and circulatory system
Recent research suggests that those drinking about one unit a day have a lower risk of heart attack, chronic heart trouble and sudden coronary death than those heavier drinkers or who do not drink at all. This, however, only applies to those already at risk of heart disease, i.e. men over 40 and women past the menopause. Drinking more than one to two units a day does not offer extra protection – on the contrary, this may raise blood pressure and cause extra health problems. Hypertension q High blood pressure – or hypertension – makes a person more susceptible to heart disease and strokes. At least 5-7% of diagnosed cases of hypertension are due to heavy drinking – its commonest cause after obesity. Binge drinking has been linked to significantly raised blood pressure, Men who regularly drink four or more – units a day are also likely to have blood pressure high enough to cause concern. The latest research indicates that the incidence of hypertension more or less doubles in people who drink over six units a day (15 – Heather et at, 2001). Blood pressure falls quickly once drinking is reduced and in some cases a difference has been noticed within a week of abstention.
Sudden Death
Binge drinking, especially by people who are not used to drinking, can cause irregular heartbeats, palpitations, and, in rare cases, sudden death. This is often known as “holiday heart” syndrome.
Alcoholic cardiomyopathy
This is a chronic disease of the heart muscle found in people who have been regularly drinking 10 or more units a day for 10 or more years. For this reason it is sometimes called “cirrhosis of the heart”. Symptoms include shortness of breath, swelling of the ankles and blueness of the extremities. In 1999, 137 people died from alcoholic cardiomyopathy (7l – OM,2 000).
Stroke
Regularly drinking more than three units a day increases the risk of one of haemorrhagic stroke – one of the more uncommon types of stoke. While it is still unclear whether moderate drinking offers some protection against the more common ischaemic stroke, it is certain that raised blood pressure increases the risk of both types.
The bones, muscles and skin
Although less well known than many of the conditions already described, problems that affect the bones, muscles and skin can have significant effects on the quality of life of many alcohol-dependent people.
Bones
Heavy drinking contributes to osteoporosis. This makes bones thin, soft and liable to collapse, especially in the lower spine, pelvis and thigh. Osteoporosis affects both women and, increasingly, middle aged and young men. People in their twenties who drink in excess of the recommended benchmarks are at particularly high risk of developing osteoporosis in later life. Recent research suggests that around 50% of alcohol misusers have either osteoporosis or osteopenia (reduced bone mass) (15 – Heather et at, 2001).
There is some evidence that drinking around five units a week can, to some extent, protect post-menopausal women against osteoporosis. Some studies show that bone density in heavy drinkers may improve with abstention.
Gout is a painful swelling of joints, especially in the fingers or toes, which can be exacerbated by heavy drinking. It is very difficult to treat but evidence suggests it may be reversed by abstention from alcohol for at least two years (15 – Heather et a/, 2001).
Muscles
Alcohol-induced muscle disease is the most prevalent skeletal muscle disorder in the western hemisphere (15 – Heather et al, 2001). It takes two main forms. Muscle degeneration causes weakness in the thighs and upper arms, and attacks of muscular pain. This is common in people with peripheral neuropathy.
Alcoholic myopathy is an acute form of muscle weakness with pain that can occur after a bout of heavy drinking. It is estimated that between one and two thirds of chronic alcohol misusers may suffer from the condition. It can affect any muscle and because of this there is believed to be a link between alcoholic myopathy and alcoholic cardiomyopathy. There is also an acute form of alcoholic myopathy, which occurs much less frequently (in less than 5% of those dependent on alcohol). The consequences, however, can be very serious, with an associated risk of acute renal failure.
Skin
In a 1985 study of 100 alcohol dependents, dermatological abnormalities were observed in over 80% of subjects (15 – Heatheret al, 2001). While not serious illnesses in themselves, skin disorders can provide visual clues to help identify problem drinkers.
Heavy drinking is one of many factors that can contribute to psoriasis, especially in men. 40% of patients attending dermatology clinics with psoriasis have been classified as alcohol misusers (15 – Heather et al, 2007). Psoriasis can take a different form in heavy drinkers: very inflamed and resistant to treatment until alcohol consumption is reduced.
Problem drinking can also play a part in the development of discoid eczema.
Problem drinkers may also experience rosacea. This is an acne-like skin disease which contributes to the flushed appearance of many dependent drinkers.
Since alcohol affects the immune system, low-grade infections such as bacterial, viral or fungal conditions can be found on the skin of around 50% of alcohol misusers (15 – Heather et al, 2001).
The brain and nervous system
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. The immediate effects of alcohol consumption can include slurred speech, loss of self-control and blackouts. Over a long period of time, however, problem drinkers and heavy social drinkers may develop various types of brain damage. Recent studies have shown that there can be reversible brain shrinkage due to drinking, with users showing intellectual impairments compared to a control group. Indications would appear to show that the level of impairment is proportional to the amount of alcohol consumed, with those drinking more suffering more impairment (15 – Heather et al, 2001).
In 1998/1999, there were 28,700 NHS hospital admissions with a primary diagnosis of “mental or behavioural 2 problems due to alcohol”. In the same period, there were 78,900 admissions in which mental and behavioural problems due to alcohol were mentioned, with this being recognised as the primary diagnosis in 32,500 of these admissions (1 – DOH, 2001).
Wernicke’s encephalopathy
Wernicke’s encephalopathy is a brain disorder caused by a lack of thiamine (vitamin BI). Lack of thiamine is a common condition amongst heavy drinkers due to poor diet andlor frequent vomiting, both of which deplete vitamin stores. The onset of Wernicke’s can be quite sudden, in some cases within hours, and needs . emergency hospital treatment. The condition can be treated by large doses of thiamine by intravenous or intramuscular injection.
The symptoms can be easy to miss and in some cases are mistaken for simple drunkenness. They include:
- Confusion about the time or place
- Drowsiness
- Poor balance
- Double vision (this is a key indicator)
- Abnormal eye movement or paralysis of eye muscles
It has been reported that 20% of people who develop Wernicke’s encephalopathy die as a result of the condition and that 80% of survivors go on to develop Korsakoffs psychosis. Autopsies often reveal undiagnosed cases of the condition (19 – Thompson, 1997).
Korsakoff’s psychosis
If Wernicke’s encephalopathy is left untreated, Korsakoff’s psychosis can develop. It is signified by profound memory loss, affecting both the ability to recall events and to form new memories. Korsakoff patients often fill out their memory gaps with elaborate fantasies, a process known as confabulation. This state may be treatable by prolonged thiamine treatment and abstention from alcohol, but improvement is seen in only about a third of cases. Korsakoffs psychosis can develop without Wernicke’s encephalopathy.
Wernicke’s encephalopathy and Korsakoff s psychosis are related but separate disorders. Post-mortem studies suggest that Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome occurs in about 2% of the general population and 12.5% of dependent drinkers (20 – Cook, 1997).
Alcoholic dementia
Patients clinically defined as alcohol dependent may also suffer more generalised brain damage. Even when general intelligence appears intact, brain scans can show loss of brain tissue and mental tests may reveal specific abnormalities in abstract reasoning, learning new skills and coping with complex visuo-spatial problems. These changes often improve with abstinence. Although known as alcoholic dementia this condition has no link to progressive diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease.
Cerebellar degeneration
Damage to the part of the brain responsible for co-ordinating body movements may accompany other damage to the nervous system. This damage may manifest itself as unsteadiness when walking and may improve with abstinence.
Peripheral neuritis or neuropathy
Peripheral neuritis is a disorder of the nervous system. Symptoms include weakness, tingling, muscle pains, numbness and a sensation often described as “burning feet”. While the cause is not clear, it is probably linked to a shortage of B vitamins. Slow recovery is possible with abstinence, vitamin supplements and a good general diet.
Mental health problems
Heavy drinking is closely linked with mental illness (psychiatric morbidity). Both mental illness and alcohol problems carry a powerful social stigma, and in more severe cases carry a potential risk of violence or suicide, a high relapse rate and can lead to serious personal and social problems. The relationship between alcohol and mental health is complex. However, research has shown that heavy drinking can contribute to anxiety and depression, accelerate or uncover a predisposition to a psychiatric disorder, and psychosis. In addition, excessive drinking has been linked to 65% of suicides (21 – DOH, 1993) (See Alcohol Concern factsheet 17: Alcohol and Mental Health)
Sexual problems
Studies have shown that alcohol is a contributory factor in the risk-taking behaviour that can lead to the contraction of sexually transmitted infections, such as HIV, gonorrhoea and syphilis (see ‘Infectious diseases’). Research suggests alcohol increases desire but decreases physiological stimulation in both sexes. Prolonged heavy drinking may cause longer lasting sexual changes.
Men
Temporary impotence – or “brewers’ droop” – after a bout of drinking is the most common problem experienced by men. Long-term heavy drinkers may experience: loss of libido and potency, shrinking of the testes, reduction in the size of the penis, reduced sperm formation, loss of pubic and body hair, and, as a complication of cirrhosis, enlargement of the breasts.
Women
Long-term heavy alcohol misuse may result in the failure to ovulate and general menstrual problems, the shrinking of the breasts and sexual organs, and body fat being redistributed into a male pattern.
Infectious diseases
Alcohol affects the immune system. The susceptibility of alcohol misusers to a wide variety of infections has recently been recognised as an important public health problem (15 – Heather et at, 2001).
H.I.V.
Recent studies have suggested a link between the rate of alcohol consumption and the progression of the H.I.V. virus. Such theories are currently a subject of discussion, but a 1998 study showed that a heavy alcohol user is generally someone who progresses rapidly to AIDS after seroconversion (the development of antibodies in response to infection) (15 – Heather et at, 2001).
Tuberculosis
While definite figures are hard to obtain due to the multitude of factors affecting the spread of tuberculosis, it still seems apparent from studies of groups of dependent drinkers followed for many years, that groups of alcohol dependent drinkers have a prevalence of tuberculosis 15-200 times that of control groups (15 – Heather et at, 2001).
Pneumonia
The link between alcohol and pneumonia has been recognised for centuries. Alcohol induces an increased susceptibility to, amongst other types, the more severe pneumococcal pneumonia. It would appear that alcohol dependency increases the chances of acquiring pneumonia while simultaneously decreasing the chances of recovery.
Malnutrition
Alcohol contains calories and as such may contribute to obesity. Despite this, however, alcohol is of no nutritional benefit and heavy drinkers may be at risk of malnutrition. This may be due to a loss of appetite caused by nausea or illness or because all available money has been spent on alcohol. Poor nutrition is linked to the development of:
- Peripheral neuropathy
- Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
- Cirrhosis
- Decreased ability to fight infection
Cancer
It is estimated that alcohol alone is responsible for about 3% of all causes of cancer (15 – Heather et at, 2001).
Cancers of the mouth, larynx (voice box), pharynx and oesophagus
People who drink more than five units a day have an increased risk of developing these cancers. Even people drinking less than this (2.5 – 5 units a day) may face a slightly increased risk. It is estimated that between 25 and 50% of cancers of the head and neck are due to alcohol. As smoking can also contribute to these cancers, people who both smoke and drink run a much greater risk of developing cancer in any of these parts of the body. Recent studies have found that 80-90% of cancers in these areas could be avoided by abstaining from smoking and drinking (15 – Heather et al, 2001).
Other cancers
Heavy drinking is associated with cancer of the liver (as already discussed) and possibly with cancers of the stomach, colon and rectum.
Breast cancer
Several studies have suggested a link between alcohol and breast cancer. A recent review of international F research in this area found that a woman’s relative risk of breast cancer increased by 6% for each additional unit consumed per day (22 – Cancer Research UK, 2002). More research is needed to investigate the relationship between alcohol consumption and the development of this disease.
Alcohol-related health problems – risk factors
Although the ill effects of excessive alcohol consumption can be felt irrespective of age, gender and social group, differences in body composition and patterns of drinking can increase susceptibility of certain groups to different alcohol-related problems. Genetic factors are also thought to have some impact on an individual’s risk of developing organ damage, e.g. liver disease, although this is an area which is in need of more extensive research.
Age – young people
The severe intoxication caused by excess drinking is more dangerous for children and adolescents than for adults. Children experience coma at lower blood alcohol levels and can develop hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), hypothermia and breathing difficulties.
The consequences of young people’s drinking are more likely to be related to intoxication than long-term health risks. In a recent study, 76Oh of 15-16 year olds reported having been drunk at least once It is estimated that 13% of 15-16 year olds had been involved in an accident or had been injured as a result of drinking (23 – Hibell, 2000). In addition, both suicide and unprotected sex can be linked to the impulsivity and risk-taking behaviour associated with high levels of alcohol consumption.
The long-term impact of regular drinking in teenagers is not known. However, prolonged heavy drinking potentially puts young people at the risk of dependency and associated health effects.
Age – older people
Physiological changes such as an increase in body fat and a decrease in both body water content and lean body mass (muscle) mean that older people experience higher blood alcohol levels with lower levels of alcohol consumption. The loss of cognitive and motor skills associated with old age put older people at higher risk of falls and accidents (a significant cause of mortality and ill health in this age group).
High levels of alcohol consumption can increase the incidence of stroke, hypertension, incontinence, chronic heart disease and insomnia. Alcohol is also linked to mental health problems.
Alcohol is implicated in one in three elderly suicides, and alcohol-related brain damage found in 10% of elderly people presenting with dementia (24 – Hjslop ef a/, 1995). Alcohol can also contribute to self-neglect which may lead to poor nutrition, poor hygiene and hypothermia.
Gender
Gender differences in the physical make-up affects the way the body processes alcohol.
Gender differences include the following:
- Women’s bodies have a lower water content and contain 10% more fat than men’s; this means women’s blood alcohol concentration is higher even at lower levels of consumption.
- The average woman (58kg) weighs considerably less than the average man (70kg), and therefore has less tissue to absorb alcohol.
- Women appear to have lower levels of the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (AHD) in their stomachs; this means that alcohol stays in the system longer before being metabolised, leading to longer lasting effects.
However, it is important to remember that, despite a 70% rise in women drinking above 14 units per week between 1988 and 2000 (from 10% to 17%), men continue to drink at much higher levels—with 29% of men exceeding the weekly benchmark of 21 units (4 – Walker, ef a/, 2001). In 2000, 65% of those who died from chronic liver disease were men and, in 1999, 80% of those who died from alcoholic cardiomyopathy (a type of heart disease) were men. Findings also suggest that men, particularly young men, are more vulnerable to acute alcohol-related harms as they drink more than women and have a greater tendency to engage in risk-taking behaviour. For example, 62% of alcohol-related home accidents in 1998 involved men (See Alcohol Concern factsheet: Alcohol and Men).
Men’s vulnerability to both the acute and chronic effects of alcohol is demonstrated by hospital admission figures: men account for over 100,000 of recorded admissions for alcohol-related diagnoses per annum, approximately double that of women.
Socio-economic status
On average, men in the lowest social group (class V) consume less alcohol than those in the highest social group (class l), However, the prevalence of dependence increases with lower social class, so the proportion of men identified as problem drinkers is found to be highest in social class V (l 1%) and lowest in social class l (6%) (25 – Alcohol Concern, 1999).
Men in the unskilled manual group aged between 25 and 39 have been found to be ten times more likely to die from alcohol-related causes than those in the professional group (26 – Lary Harison, 1999).
The reasons for this are unclear – and there is a need for further research – but differences in patterns of drinking (rather than levels of consumption), diet, housing, health care and the ease with which personal problems can be managed have all been implicated.
Conclusion
Excess drinking has been shown to have a significant impact on the development of organ damage and disease. However, only with further investigation into the nature of this relationship can we begin accurately to calculate alcohol’s true impact on the health of the nation.
In the recent Alcohol Concern report 100% Proof, Dr John Kemm argues that data on alcohol-related death and disease are unreliable due to a failure adequately to define the criteria for attributing a death or disease to alcohol. The lack of accurate information on alcohol-related mortality and morbidity makes it difficult to establish the nature of the relationship between level and pafiern of consumption and particular pathologies.
He recommends that further study of alcohol-related diseases is needed to clarify the relative risk of disease at varying levels of consumption (27 – Kemm, 2002).
Without a more in-depth clinical understanding of the various disease mechanisms linked to alcohol-related health damage, it becomes difficult to establish and isolate the “genetic, environmental and consfitutional factors, including diet, obesity and tobacco use” (28 – Ritson, 2002) that may also play an important part in susceptibility to alcohol-related harm.
The public health implications of increasing levels of alcohol consumption, particularly among young people, are significant – even if they are not fully understood. Dr Kernm makes the relationship between public health and the need for further research explicit: “In order fo plan services and make policy decisions we need to understand the frequency and nature of alcohol related ham”.
Short-term problems
- Headache
- Blurred vision
- Loss of inhibitions
- Violence
- Loss of balance
- Trauma
- Arguments
- Blood-shot eyes
- Blackouts
- Poor concentration
- Restlessness
- Difficulty in sleeping
- High blood pressure
- Rapid pulse
- Vomiting
- Diarrhoea
- Inflammation of the stomach
- Fatty Liver
- Trembling hands
- Falls
- Bruising
- Impaired sexual performance
- Unwanted pregnancies
- Sexually transmitted diseases
- Menstrual disturbances
- Reduced fertility
- Miscarriages
- General dehydration
Long-term problems
- Serious memory loss
- Damage to nerves
- Dementia
- Epilepsy
- Hallucinations
- Chronic anxiety
- Depression
- Numbness in extremities
- Peripheral neuritis
- Poor eyesight
- Mouth cancer
- Metabolic disorders
- Throat cancer
- Oesophageal varices
- Cardiomyopathy
- Anaemia
- Heart failure
- Impaired blood clotting
- Pancreatitis
- Hypoglycaemia
- Ulcers
- Liver Cirrhosis
- Hepatitis
- Liver cancer
- Back pain
- Kidney infections
- Foetal Alcohol Syndrome.
- Impotence
- Peripheral neuritis and muscle degeneration
- Malnutrition
- General vulnerability to infection
How alcohol affects the brain & Central Nervous System
Impaired behaviour, judgement, memory, concentration and coordination. Drinkers experience mild euphoria and loss of inhibitions as alcohol impairs regions of the brain controlling behaviour and emotion. Alcohol impairs judgement, memory, concentration and coordination as well as inducing extreme mood swings and emotional outbursts.
Brain damage and affect
Alcohol acts as a sedative on the Central Nervous System, depressing the nerve cells in the brain, dulling, altering and damaging their ability to respond. Large doses cause sleep, anaesthesia, respiratory failure, coma and death.
Brain disorders and addiction
Long term drinking may result in permanent brain damage, serious mental disorders and addiction to alcohol.
Other effects on Central Nervous System:
- impaired visual ability
- unclear hearing
- dulled smell and taste
- loss of pain perception
- altered sense of time and space
- impaired fine motor skills
- slows reactions
- impaired sexual performance
