Table of Contents
Short term effects
When a person drinks alcohol, the alcohol is absorbed by the stomach, enters the bloodstream, and goes to all the tissues. The effects of alcohol are dependent on a variety of factors, including a person's size, weight, age, and sex, as well as the amount of food and alcohol consumed. Immediately after the intake of a large amount of alcohol, there are several characteristic symptoms. Some of the most common are:
- slurred speech
- a loss of co-ordination
- instability when standing or walking
- impaired attention and judgment
- sleepiness
A hangover is another effect that may occur after large amounts of alcohol have been consumed; a hangover consists of a headache, nausea, thirst, dizziness, and fatigue.
Long term effects
When a person has been abusing alcohol for a long time, at least for several years, there are many symptoms that may occur. Some of the most common are:
- death,
- pancreatitis,
- heart disease,
- polyneuropathy - damage to the nerves leading to poor sensation or pain
- cirrhosis of the liver,
- depression, insomnia, anxiety, and suicide,
- an increased incidence of many types of cancer, including breast cancer, head and neck cancer, esophageal cancer and colorectal cancer
- nutritional deficiency of folic acid, thiamine (vitamin B1) and several others
- personality changes particularly those affecting social behaviour and relationships with those who are close to the alcoholic
- a significant damage to occupational, social, and interpersonal areas, including sexual dysfunction
Possible causes of alcoholism
Chemical imbalance
Alcohol addiction occurs gradually as drinking alcohol alters the balance of some chemicals in brain. Some of those chemicals are
o gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
o glutamate
o dopamine
Genetics
Although, these findings aren’t proven yet, several experts are saying that certain genetic factors may cause a person to be vulnerable to alcoholism or other addictions.
Emotional state
High levels of stress, anxiety or emotional pain can sometimes provoke a desire to drink alcohol in some people. Certain stress hormones may be associated with alcoholism.
Psychological factors
It is easy to understand that having low-self esteem or suffering from depression can make a person more likely to abuse alcohol. Another important factor is company and friends. Having friends that drink regularly, can easily lead to excessive drinking on your part.