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