Alcohol effects on The Brain
Let us first look at effects on the brain. We have small blood vessels feeding our brain and these protect it from most toxins. Apart from substances such as alcohol and drugs. Certain drugs have a positive impact, such as pain relief medication and drugs which treat mental health conditions. Alcohol and so called street drugs have a negative effect which can cause long term damage.
Alcohol and drugs kill off brain cells and damage vital nerves which can cause serious long term and permanent problems. The most well known in association with alcohol is so called wet brain or permanent memory loss which has symptoms similar to dementia. The brain does naturally shrink with age but people who drink too much or who are addicted to drugs speed this process up. Therefore younger people with addiction problems can develop illness and conditions linked to older people, such as early onset dementia. They are also at a greater risk of having a stroke which can result in brain damage. Paralysis of one side or the whole body and loss of speech or speech impediment.
Alcohol on The Heart and Lungs
The heart and lungs can also be affected by alcoholic drinking or addictive drug taking. The heart can have to work extremely hard as it struggles to support other organs affected by drugs and / or alcohol. Veins and arteries which carry blood can become blocked with cholesterol due to the high calorie content of alcohol. If the heart is constantly overworked, this can lead to high blood pressure, fluid retention and damage to the actual heart itself. This can lead to life limiting heart disease or heart attacks – which can be fatal. The lungs can be damaged too. Cancers can be caused from the toxins in alcohol and drugs. Small veins in the lungs can collapse causing conditions such as emphesema and asthma both of which can be highly unpleasant and even life threatening.
The Stomach
The stomach can be affected by stomach ulcers which can cause chronic pain and bleeding. If the ulcers perforate this can lead to widespread infections and internal bleeding and can even eventually result in death.
The Kidneys
The kidneys filter the blood and remove toxins that are then passed out through the body in urine. When drugs and alcohol are consumed, the kidneys have to work considerably harder to do their job. If this hard work is ongoing over a lengthy period of time, it can lead to decreased kidney function or even failure. Should the kidneys fail, the only treatment options are dialysis or transplant both of which present serious issues and can eventually lead to kidney failure and death.
Alcohol and drug abuse can also affect the liver and the mouth – and can cause death in many other imaginative ways. Watch this space!
The Haynes Clinic is an alcohol and drug rehab clinic which offers detox and counselling for people with addictions.
Call 01462 851414 for free and confidential advice.
Understand more about alcohol addiction in general.