The effects of alcohol can range from aggressive and violent behaviors to complex diseases of the nervous system. Discover more about them!
Alcohol is a drug that is legal and socially accepted. In fact, it is the most widespread drug in the world and we use it frequently in gatherings, hangouts with friends, family meals, and so on. However, do we know the effects of alcohol?
The effects of alcohol begin with a feeling of excitement and euphoria that makes us feel better when we start to drink it. Unfortunately, many people use it to be uninhibited or to calm down.
However, the actual effects on the body are not good at all. Alcohol is a poison that can cause alterations in all systems. In fact, there are many diseases that are related to the chronic intake of this substance.
For example, alcohol is highly associated with liver dysfunction. This reality has spread among the population. However, few people know the effects of alcohol on the nervous system, for example.
What are the effects of alcohol?
Alcoholism only has negative effects on health.
The effects of alcohol on the nervous system can occur both acutely and chronically. The amount ingested and the time that this situation is maintained are decisive. In general, we distinguish between acute intoxication and chronic alcoholism.
Acute intoxication
Acute poisoning occurs when, in a short period of time, very large amounts of alcohol are ingested. At first, this leads to pleasant symptoms, such as the disinhibition we mentioned earlier.
On the other hand, it is necessary to mention that, although many people use alcohol to socialize, others get affects in the opposite way. Many people become aggressive and irritable.
However, the effects of alcohol in this case can cause an ethyl coma. This is a state of loss of consciousness due to this substance that can be life-threatening.
Among the effects of alcohol, it stands out that it is a depressant of the respiratory system. This means that, in these cases, death can occur due to a failure in breathing.
Alcoholism
Alcoholism occurs when the person feels an urgent need to drink alcohol that leads them to do so constantly. One of the effects of alcohol is that it is capable of producing physical dependence. This causes alcoholics to suffer withdrawal symptoms when they cannot drink it.
Alcoholism is in association with other processes that, when combined, cause certain serious neurological disorders to develop. These circumstances are as follows:
Most alcoholics have nutritional deficiencies and vitamin deficiencies.
Other organs such as the liver are affected. Liver degeneration, if you did not know, can actually cause damage to the nervous system. And alcohol affects the liver first, causing hepatitis.
It is very common for blows and head injuries to occur from the effects of alcohol. This can cause bruising and bleeding in the brain that also deteriorates its function.
For all these reasons, the effects of alcohol on the nervous system lead to numerous diseases. Next, we explain the most outstanding ones.
Effects of alcohol: neurological diseases
Below we will mention those conditions that are associated with chronic alcohol consumption, read on!
Dementia
Almost 10% of chronic alcoholics suffer from dementia. This implies that these people suffer a deterioration of all their cognitive functions, such as memory and social skills. The person may lose the ability to perform activities which are complex. It can also cause changes in your personality and mood.
Degeneration of the cerebellum
The effects of alcohol affect the cerebellum.
The cerebellum is responsible for the coordination of movements, something that could be affected after chronic alcohol consumption.
The cerebellum is a part of the nervous system that is responsible for muscle coordination and other movements that we perform involuntarily. Estimations are that around 50% of alcoholics suffer damage to it. They end up having difficulty speaking, walking, and even start to have tremors.
Alcoholic polyneuropathy
Another of the effects of alcohol is alcoholic polyneuropathy. It is a disease in which some nerves degenerate and cannot maintain their functions well. It is in association with a vitamin deficiency secondary to alcohol intake.
These people gradually begin to lose strength in their limbs. In addition, they feel paresthesia (a tingling sensation on the skin) and pain in those same extremities. Ultimately, it affects the way you walk.
Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome
This pathology produces an alteration of consciousness that can go as far as coma. It is due to the fact that the brain does not metabolize glucose correctly and certain toxic substances accumulate in it.
The effects of alcohol on the nervous system are varied and complex. It is important to know that it causes harm both when it comes to acute intoxication and when the person is a chronic alcoholic.
Therefore, if you think you have an addiction to alcohol or drink it often, try to stay away from it. Both your doctor and the many support groups that exist today can help you.
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