In Part 1 of this blog post series, we explored alcohol's impact on our mental health. From its role in increasing depression and anxiety, to being a naturally addictive drug, to affecting our memory and cognition and causing emotional instability, sleep disruption, and cognitive decline, alcohol seems to do more harm than good when it comes to our mental health. For a refresher on alcohol's role on mental health, click here.
If you've drank alcohol before, you've definitely experienced some type of physical reaction, whether it's bloating, headaches, feeling lethargic for a few days after drinking, disrupted sleep, or a change in toliet habits. But what's actually happening in our bodies when we consume alcohol?
Today, we're going to dive deep into alcohol's impact on our physical health.
The Physical Affects Aren't...Pretty
Allen Carr, author of The Easy Way to Control Alcohol and Annie Grace, the author of This Naked Mind: Control Alcohol, emphasize alcohol as an addictive drug with no health benefits, despite what we've been told to believe about a nightly glass of wine being good for your heart.
Alcohol is a poison. Alcohol is ethanol; yup, it's the gas you put in your car. The ethanol we drink is filled with additives and sugar to make it taste good, but at the end of the day, it's still ethanol. Even small amounts of alcohol cause dehydration, impair cognitive function, and disrupt our sleep cycles.
It damages organs. The liver, stomach, esophagus, and heart are especially vulnerable to alcohol.
It creates a false sense of relaxation. You might feel relaxed after consuming alcohol, but what's actually occuring is the anesthetic effects of alcohol, completely numbing your physical and emotional experiences. Alcohol actually increases stress and anxiety over time.
Hangovers are actually withdrawal symptoms. Hangovers are evidence of the body rejecting the poisonous effects of alcohol.
Dehydration and premature aging. Alcohol dehydrates the skin, contributes to inflammation, and damages cells. This leads to wrinkles, puffiness, and dull complexion.
Rosacea & broken capillaries. Alcohol dilates blood vessels, causing redness and visible veins on the face.
Hair thinning. Heavy drinking can lead to hair loss due to poor nutrition and hormonal changes.
It weakens the immune system. Drinking increases the risk of chronic disease and illness.
It disrupts brain chemistry. Alcohol causes dopamine spikes, then crashes, leading to cravings and dependence.
Memory loss and blackouts. Alcohol blocks the brain from forming new memories.
Brain shrinkage. Chronic drinking reduces the volume of our brains, which affects memory, reasoning, and learning.
Peripheral neuropathy. Alcohol damages nerves, leading to tingling, numbness, and weakness in the limbs.
Increased risk of dementia. Alcohol-induced cognitive decline accelerates neurodegenerative diseases.
Fatty liver disease. Even light drinking can cause fat accumulation in liver cells.
Alcoholic hepatitis. This is when the liver becomes inflamed and swells, which can be fatal.
Cirrhosis. Irreversible scarring that leads to liver failure and an increased risk of liver cancer.
High blood pressure. Alcohol raises our blood pressure, increasing the risk of strokes and heart attacks.
Irregular heartbeat. Alcohol can trigger A-fib, leading to heart failure.
Cardiomyopathy. When we drink heavily, the heart's ability to pump blood is weakened.
Gastritis & stomach ulcers. Alcohol irritates the stomach lining, leading to painful ulcers and chronic inflammation.
Pancreatitis. When we drink, our pancreas becomes inflammed. This can disrupt digestion and increase the risk of diabetes.
Malnutrition & vitamin deficiencies. Alcohol impairs our ability to absorb nutrients, especially vitamin C, B, zinc, and magnesium.
Slower wound healing. Alcohol impairs white blood cell function. When the white blood cells aren't functioning at their highest capacity, it delays our recovery from injuries or surgeries.
Increases the risk of sleep apnea. Alcohol relaxes throat muscles, worsening breathing problems during sleep.
Lowers testosterone in men. This leads to reduced muscle mass, low libido, and erectile dysfunction.
Increases estrogen in women. This causes hormonal imbalances and an increased risk in breast cancer.
Fertility issues. Alcohol disrupts ovulation in women and lowers sperm count in men.
Increased miscarriage risk. Drinking during pregnancy leads to fetal alcohol syndrome, causing severe developmental disorders in babies.
Alcohol poisoning. Excessive drinking can cause respiratory failure, coma, or death.
Alcohol and Cancer
Research has found a direct link between alcohol and at least 7 types of cancer:
Mouth cancer
Throat cancer
Larynx (voice box) cancer
Esophageal cancer
Liver cancer
Colorectal cancer
Breast cancer
We might be tempted to believe that small amounts of alcohol consumption don't affect our cancer risk, but unfortunately, the research has proven that even small amounts increase cancer risk. In fact, even one drink per day raises the risk of certain cancers, especially breast and esophageal.
Women who have a minimum of 3 drinks per week increase their risk of breast cancer by 15% (Grace, 2015). The myth of moderate drinking being healthy or safe has been debunked. We now know, through years of research, there is truly no safe level of alcohol consumption when it comes to cancer risk.
Final Thoughts
Alcohol is not a harmless social drink. It's a substance that is toxic, poisonous, and deteriorates our physical and mental health. The more we learn about the physical and mental effects of alcohol, the easier it becomes for us to see alcohol for what it truly is: a poison disguised as pleasure.
Historically, alcohol has always existed. You hear about citizens of ancient Rome drinking alcohol while watching people get mauled to death at the Colosseum, or Egyptian kings drinking alcohol during celebratory feasts. Because it's something human civilization has always engaged in, we don't seem to question it. And that makes sense! Why question something that's just always...been around?
But as research continues to be conducted on alcohol's actual impact on our minds and bodies, we can't deny the fact that what's been sold to us as a social exception is actually slowly (yet quickly) killing us.
Everyone's journey with alcohol is unique to them. There truly is no "one size fits all" plan to alcohol moderation or abstainance. When AA works for one person, it might not work in the slightest for someone else. If someone believes they're completely powerless over alcohol, someone else might see that belief as limiting and inhibit their ability to mindfully reflect on their drinking habits. Regardless of what works for you, don't believe the lie that abstinence only is the only way. Start small. Evalute your drinking habits, and be curious about it. View yourself from a nonjudgemental, compassionate lens. Maybe trying refraining from alcohol for 7 days and jot down how you feel and anything different you might notice.
When we have knowledge about our habits, we hold the power.
At Root Counseling, we work with people on exploring their habits, the ones they love and the ones they don't, and how it affects their entire well-being. To schedule an appointment with one of our therapists, you can visit us here.
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