Alcohol can negatively impact your physical, mental and social wellbeing. The most up-to-date evidence shows that no amount or kind of alcohol is good for your health.
Opting for abstinence, or taking steps to drink less, can help you protect your health. It also offers you an opportunity to reassess the role of drinking in your life.
How Alcohol Affects the Body
Alcohol is one of the most widely used substances in the world. Like all drugs, alcohol can damage the body and brain, especially when consumed in large quantities, either over time or on a single occasion.
Even low levels of alcohol consumption can potentially lead to unintended health consequences, including certain cancers and cardiovascular disease. Understanding the effects of alcohol on the body can help you make an informed decision about your patterns of use.
SHORT-TERM EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL
Drinking too much alcohol on a single occasion can have many negative effects on the body, including:
Lowered inhibitions
Nausea or vomiting
Headache
Impulsive or violent behaviour
Changes in hearing, vision and perception
Loss of consciousness or gaps in memory
Hangover
Alcohol poisoning
The severity of short-term impacts depends largely on how much alcohol a person drinks, but other factors such as hydration, food consumption and even the quality of the alcohol consumed also play a role.
Although these effects are time-limited, changes in judgment and behaviour due to alcohol use can lead to serious consequences, including accidents, injuries and decisions you later come to regret.
LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL
Over time, alcohol can lead to a wide range of health conditions. Overwhelming evidence suggests that the higher your level of alcohol consumption, the higher your risk. Long-term health consequences of alcohol include:
Liver damage, including cirrhosis (permanent scarring of the liver)
Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas)
Impaired blood sugar control
Memory problems
Malnutrition
High blood pressure
Increased risk of heart attack and stroke
Sexual dysfunction
Weakened immune system
Increased risk of certain cancers
Worsened symptoms of depression and anxiety
Alcohol dependence and mental health problems
When pregnant or trying to get pregnant, no amount of alcohol is considered safe. Drinking during pregnancy can lead to miscarriage, stillbirth and preterm delivery, as well as lifelong complications for the child exposed to alcohol in the womb.
HIGHER ALCOHOL USE = HIGHER RISK
There is a continuum of risk linked to weekly alcohol consumption, where drinking less is always better for your health.
No Risk | 0 drinks per week Not drinking has benefits, including better health and better sleep. |
Low Risk | 1-2 standard drinks per week You'll likely avoid alcohol-related consequences for yourself and others. |
Moderate Risk | 3-6 standard drinks per week Your risk of developing certain cancers, including breast cancer and colon cancer, increases. |
Increasingly High Risk | 7 or more standard drinks per week Your risk of heart disease and stroke increases. Each additional standard drink radically increases the risk of health consequences. |
Benefits of Limiting Alcohol
Quitting alcohol can feel like a daunting decision, especially in a society where drinking is often deeply integrated into social gatherings, celebrations, and even daily life. But choosing to abstain from alcohol or reduce your use can have a profound impact on your health.
Depending on your current level of alcohol consumption, taking a break from alcohol for 30 days or more may help:
Repair liver function: One of the liver's main jobs is to break down toxic substances, including alcohol. When you drink more than what your liver can process, alcohol can damage the liver. Initially, this leads to fat buildup in the liver, but over time it can cause inflammation and scarring (cirrhosis).
The liver is a resilient organ. If you currently have fatty liver, taking a break from drinking gives your liver a chance to repair itself – just 2-3 weeks can allow the liver to heal and return to normal.
Reduce your risk of cancer: Alcohol can increase the risk of developing several different types of cancer, including breast, colon, pancreatic, liver, mouth, throat and esophageal cancers. This risk increases the more you drink over time. Taking steps to limit your alcohol use, or cut it out entirely, can help lower your risk.
Improve your sleep: Alcohol, especially when consumed in large quantities before bed, can lead to disrupted, poor-quality sleep. Abstaining from alcohol may help you sleep better overall.
If you choose to drink, it’s always better to drink less.
Alcohol Withdrawal
Suddenly quitting or cutting back on alcohol consumption after a period of heavy alcohol use or dependence can lead to the experience of withdrawal symptoms, including:
Headache
Elevated blood pressure
Heart palpitations
Nausea and vomiting
Anxiety
Agitation
Insomnia
Tremors
Hallucinations
In severe cases, withdrawal from alcohol can cause seizures, delirium tremens, and even death. Because alcohol withdrawal can sometimes be dangerous, having medical support throughout the detoxification process is important.
Need help cutting back? Contact us at 705-269-6662 or moma@mushkegowuk.ca to make an appointment with our primary care team about your alcohol use.