Drinking alcohol is held nowadays responsible for number of health disorders that are both critical and chronic. But in consideration to health risks of Alcohol we cannot consider all categories of alcoholic beverages and drinking habits in the same category. There are different types of alcoholic drinks with varying degrees of alcoholic concentration and there are different types of alcohol drinkers, from mere occasional drinkers to people who frequently consume alcoholic beverages to heavy drinkers who are otherwise called as alcoholics. These different categories of alcohol drinking habits have different types of health hazards and risks associated with them. Here we would mention some of the most frequent and common health risks of alcohol which are commonly referred by the medical practitioners all over the world.
Heart disorders
Heart or cardiovascular disorders are the most common and frequent health risks of alcohol in the world. Almost all the attributes associated with alcohol pose danger to the normal and healthy functioning of heart and blood circulation. Most important of all drinking regularly or in heavy quantity can make the heart muscles weaker that can eventually fail to work and thus cause stroke or heart failure. Secondly alcohol is the most crucial element in the increase of the bad cholesterol that blocks the arteries carrying blood flow in the heart and thus posing greater risk of heart attack. Thirdly consuming alcohol in sustained manner can make the pallets of the blood clot together and thus poses greater risk of heart attack. Abnormalities in the rhythm of the heart beats also pose great danger to heart functioning due to sustained alcohol consumption. Remember, every person has different set of abnormalities in relation to heart functioning but whatever be it is it can always be aggravated by consuming alcoholic drinks and beverages.
Hypertension or High Blood Pressure
One of the most common and almost every day health risks of alcohol is hypertension or high blood pressure. Drinking alcohol can cause increase in the energy level due to more secretion of adrenalin hormone and naturally it makes the drinkers vulnerable to anxiety, agitation and tension that can lead to high blood pressure at times, especially if the drinking habit and its health effects are sustained for a prolonged time. Secondly coronary heart blockage due to deposit of bad cholesterol is one of the effects of long drinking habits that is likely to cause hypertension. Other health effects like stress, sleeplessness, depression, compulsive thought disorder also play immense role in causing high blood pressure or hypertension.
Anemia
Prolonged drinking habit or heavy drinking can cause anemia as well. Drinking alcohol can cause the oxygen carrying red blood cell count to be abnormally low and thus can cause anemia which in turn can manifests in number of other symptoms like extreme fatigue, shortness of breath, thoughtlessness, etc.
There is no disease so critical as cancer and even alcohol drinking has some important contributions in the onset and escalation of cancer. As per various researches and medical studies in different parts of the globe it has been observed that alcohol is converted into acetaldehyde in the body which is a type of carcinogen and we all know that carcinogen is the main toxin responsible for a majority of the types of cancer. Some of the more potential sites of cancer caused by alcohol drinking include mouth, pharynx, throat, liver, esophagus canal, breast and colorectal region.
Jaundice and liver problems
One of the most crucial organs that are affected severely by alcohol drinking is lever and this is the precise reason why jaundice and liver problems come as a primary area of consideration among the health risks of alcohol. Alcohol affects the liver and digestive system heavily and with sustained drinking cause serious danger and makes the affected person suffer from chronic lever problem thus increased vulnerability to serious liver disorders like cirrhosis or jaundice. Alcohol is a completely toxic element to lever cells that creates scars on the lever and with continuance of such damage and scars the lever stops functioning after a certain period that is called cirrhosis and even can lead to death.
Depression and anxiety
Depression and Anxiety is one of the most common effects observed in people addicted or habituated with drinking alcohol that can fast become serious health threat. In various medical studies it has been observed that depression and anxiety is followed by alcoholic addiction that in the short time can create multiple health complexities.
Dementia and shrinking capacity of brain function
As people get older their brain continue to shrink in functional capacity and naturally they can memorize fewer things than their youth. Dementia and shrinking of brain capacity occurs more rapidly with regular consumption of alcoholic drinks and it is especially observed to take rigorous shape in people who drink in unusual quantity.
Immune disorders
Immune problems and resulted health disorders pose one of the most frequent categories of health risks of alcohol. Immune disorders are increasingly posing great array of health threats and in this regard alcohol consumption has a great role to play. Various medical researches and studies have found that regular and heavy consumption of alcohol damages immune system to a great extent and consequently helps to escalation of various infectious and auto immune diseases.
Epileptic seizure
Sustained habit of alcohol consumption can cause epileptic syndromes in some people. Various studies observed that some people developed epilepsy and began to experience seizure and convulsions after a prolonged alcohol intake for years.
Gout
Gout is a type of Arthritis which is mainly caused in the feet and crystals formed by the uric acid in the body are mainly responsible for this Arthritis. Though it is still not clear, drinking alcohol and other effects of sedentary lifestyle has a great influence in increasing the deposit of uric acid and consequent onset of gout.
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