Chronic Alcohol Use: The Risks of Drinking Too Much
Chronic alcohol use does not necessarily make you an alcoholic, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC). Nor does it always lead to addiction. Nevertheless, it can harm you in many ways, both physically and mentally, cause damage to your brain and other organs, and create social problems. In addition, chronic alcohol use can lead to a condition known as tolerance, in which it takes more and more alcohol to produce the same effects. Your body may begin to rely on alcohol to be able to function, increasing your risk of developing alcohol use disorder. How Chronic Alcohol Use Can Affect Your Body Liver Damage Alcohol is a toxin that gets flushed out by your liver, but when you regularly drink large quantities of it, your liver may not be able to keep up. Long-term heavy use of alcohol can kill liver cells and lead to cirrhosis, which is the result of scarring, as well as fatty liver disease, which prevents your liver from working the way it should. Cardiovascular Issues Chronic alcohol use can increase the risk of high cholesterol and blood clots. It can also make it harder for blood to get pumped to your heart, which can result in heart disease and problems such as irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, and stroke. Brain and Nervous System Chronic alcohol use can disrupt your brain’s communication pathways, making it harder for you to think and speak clearly. It can also affect your memory and your ability to move in a coordinated way. Pancreas Excessive use of alcohol can cause your pancreas to produce toxins that lead to pancreatitis and impair its ability to produce the necessary enzymes and hormones for proper digestion. Cancer Alcohol is a known chemical carcinogen. Chronic alcohol use can damage the cells [...]
