| Cancer | | | | Alcohol has been known to mitigate the |
| | | | production of the ADH, which is a hormone |
| 2-4% of all cancer cases are related to | | | | that acts on the kidney, favoring water |
| alcohol. Upper digestive tract cancers are | | | | reabsorption in the kidneys during |
| the most common, hitting the esophagus, | | | | filtration. This occurs because alcohol |
| mouth, larynx, and pharynx. Women who drink | | | | confuses osmoreceptors in the hypothalamus, |
| prior to menopause are more likely to develop | | | | which relay osmotic pressure information to |
| breast cancer. Your risk of skin cancer | | | | the posterior pituitary the site of ADH |
| doubles if you drink slightly more than | | | | release. Alcohol makes the osmoreceptors |
| "moderate levels." Some studies implicate | | | | signal as if there was a too low osmotic |
| alcohol in colon, stomach, pancreas and lung | | | | pressure in the blood, which triggers an |
| cancer. And let's not forget the liver... | | | | inhibition of ADH. Consequently, one's |
| | | | kidneys are no longer able to reabsorb as |
| Alcohol poisoning. | | | | much water as they should be absorbing, |
| | | | leading to creation of excessive volumes of |
| Drinking large amounts can result in alcohol | | | | urine and subsequently overall dehydration. |
| poisoning, which causes unconsciousness and | | | | |
| even death. Breathing slows, and the skin | | | | Alcohol and pregnancy |
| becomes cold and may look blue. Don't let a | | | | |
| person in this condition "sleep it off." | | | | Women who drink heavily during pregnancy are |
| | | | at risk of having babies with a condition |
| Heart disease | | | | called fetal alcohol syndrome. This can |
| | | | result in growth deficiencies, nervous system |
| Heart disease could be another effect of your | | | | problems, lowered intelligence, and facial |
| drinking. Long term alcohol dependency has | | | | abnormalities in the child. It is also called |
| been know to be the cause of high blood | | | | fetal alcohol spectrum disorder - all the |
| pressure, congestive heart failure and even | | | | symptoms are not always present and can vary |
| some strokes. Your liver is going to be | | | | in how serious they are. |
| affected by all your drinking and you might | | | | |
| find yourself suffering from liver failure or | | | | Psychological effects |
| even Cirrhosis of the liver. | | | | |
| | | | Although alcohol initially makes people feel |
| Personal relationships | | | | relaxed, long term excessive use can |
| | | | ultimately increase anxiety and cause |
| Personal relationships will suffer. As your | | | | depression. It is also related to problems |
| disease progresses, alcohol begins to take | | | | with sleeping, mood-swings, violence and |
| control of your life. You will find that you | | | | suicide (about two-thirds of suicide attempts |
| cannot make even the simplest decisions. You | | | | are thought to involve alcohol). |
| will find that you would rather spend your | | | | |
| time drinking than spending it with family | | | | Neurologically |
| and friends. Alcohol can also make you more | | | | |
| violent then you are normally. Most domestic | | | | Neurologically there will be some side |
| abuse involves drinking as well as some child | | | | effects also. Alcohol is a toxin that is |
| abuse cases. Your temper and patience is much | | | | going to do damage to your brain. You may |
| shorter than it would be if you were not | | | | find that you have a loss of balance, loss of |
| drinking. | | | | intellectual abilities and unable to |
| | | | concentrate on anything. Your hands might |
| Dehydration | | | | become numb and you may feel that you are |
| | | | always in a state of mental confusion. |