LONG-TERM EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL

 The person who drinks excessively for a long period of time is at risk for developing serious health problems. Long-term heavy drinking affects almost every system in the body.

LONG-TERM EFFECTS: 1.Brain – drinking alcohol for many years eventually destroys millions of brain cells. Brain cells cannot be repaired or replaced 2.Liver – chronic drinking may cause cirrhosis, which is when normal liver cells are replaced by scar tissue  Cirrhosis often has no symptoms & as liver cells die, the liver loses it’s ability to perform its function (ex. blood clotting & metabolizing poisons)  This loss of function may have symptoms such as: fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea & vomiting, weight loss & weakness, itching, Edema (fluid build up in the legs), increased bleeding and bruising, and Jaundice (yellowing of the skin & eyes)

LONG-TERM EFFECTS  Cirrhosis is the 8 th leading cause of death by disease in the United States, killing 25,000 people each year. Thousands of others are impaired as the liver loses its ability to function.

LONG-TERM EFFECTS 3.Heart – heavy drinking may contribute to high blood pressure & may damage the heart muscle, increasing risk of heart disease 4.Stomach – risk of ulcers from increase flow of gastric juices 5.Sexual Organs – possible impotence 6.Fetus – deformity, low birth weight, mental retardation, verbal & hearing defects & FAS 7.Muscles – muscles wasting due to vitamin & nutritional deficiencies 8.Cancer – mouth, tongue, & throat 9.Pancreatitis – inflammation of pancreas

ALCOHOLICS  21 times more likely to have an antisocial personality disorder  3.9 times more likely to have a drug abuse disorder  6.2 times more likely to have manic- depressive disorder  4 times more likely to have schizophrenia