If you’re concerned about the effects of alcohol use on your health, contact your health care provider for help. One night of binge drinking can jumble the electrical signals that keep your heart’s rhythm steady. If you do it for years, you can make those heart rhythm changes permanent and cause what’s called arrhythmia. Over time, it causes heart muscles to droop and stretch, like an old rubber band. Your heart can’t pump blood as well, and that impacts every part of your body.

In observational studies, the https://ecosoberhouse.com/ benefits of those behaviors might have been erroneously attributed to alcohol, Dr. Piano said. If you or someone you love is battling alcohol use and addiction, effective treatment is available. Rehab centers like Vertava Health Massachusetts provide comprehensive care to individuals and families who are suffering from the effects of alcohol use. Since alcohol is a legal substance, many people are unsure about the difference between moderate, “social” drinking and alcohol use.

Understanding Blood Alcohol Content (BAC)

This can cause a low platelet count, which may consequences of alcohol in bruising and bleeding. Heavy drinking can cause increased fat in the liver and inflammation of the liver . Over time, heavy drinking can cause irreversible destruction and scarring of liver tissue .

• Listed below are some of the health issues that you may face in the long-term as a result of alcohol use, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
• This is why many drinkers become mildly malnourished over time.
• But once the sedative effect wears off, it can disrupt or lower the quality of your sleep.
• But more recent research suggests there’s really no “safe” amount of alcohol since even moderate drinking can negatively impact brain health.

A causal relationship has been established between harmful drinking and incidence or outcomes of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. The harmful use of alcohol can also result in harm to other people, such as family members, friends, co-workers and strangers.

Short-Term Risks and Effects of Alcohol Consumption

Consuming alcohol can significantly affect your health, as well as your overall well-being and safety. Alcohol is the third-leading preventable cause of death in the U.S., with 95,000 people dying each year from alcohol-related causes. Nearly 15 million people 12 and older had alcohol use disorder. Alcohol throws off the normal speed that food moves through them. That’s why hard drinking can lead to diarrhea, which can turn into a long-term problem. It also makes heartburn more likely because it relaxes the muscle that keeps acid out of your esophagus, the tube that connects your mouth and stomach.