Alcohol and health

Alcohol use affects overall functioning and increases the risk of disease. The consequences of drinking alcohol are often underestimated, especially because alcohol is a socially accepted stimulant. Alcohol consumption is associated with around 60 different conditions and has effects in all organs of the body. Alcohol abuse is responsible for a large number of premature and unnecessary deaths each year.

For a long time it was thought that consuming 1 to 2 drinks per day had a protective effect against cardiovascular disease. These conclusions are no longer relevant, because it has been shown that the risk of problems increases rapidly as soon as you drink more than 1 or 2 drinks per day. Science has still not found a safe lower limit for the amount of drinks that can be consumed without risk. Alcohol has a proven influence on health and the development of diseases, causing a higher risk of death.

General complaints due to alcohol consumption

General practitioners often receive patients during their consultation hours with health complaints that may be related to alcohol use. High alcohol consumption is often not reported, for example due to feelings of fear or shame. Sometimes the drinker lacks insight into the relationship between the complaints experienced and alcohol consumption. The complaints can occur due to various causes, which means that they cannot always be traced back to excessive alcohol use. If complaints occur more often or occur in conjunction with each other, the suspicion of alcohol abuse may increase.

Some general complaints that may be associated with alcohol abuse are:

Fatigue, feelings of illness, hyperventilation, excessive sweating
Complaints of the gastrointestinal tract, diarrhea, enlarged liver, pancreatitis
High blood pressure, cardiac arrhythmias, lung infections
Headache, tremors, muscle complaints, memory disorders
Gout, broken bones from falls, bruises, sprains or wounds from accidents
Red spots on the face (petichia), swelling of the face
Abnormal blood values, especially of the liver

Source: Geralt, Pixabay

Alcohol and risk of disorders

A number of conditions can be directly linked to alcohol use. The risk of developing these conditions only increases the risk of developing health problems. Not everyone who drinks a lot becomes ill and not every disease can be traced back to an unhealthy lifestyle, such as alcohol abuse.

Cancer

One in 10 men and one in 33 women have cancer caused by drinking alcohol. The cause of cancer is the release of the carcinogenic substance acetaldehyde during the breakdown of alcohol. Acetaldehyde damages cells, which are therefore replaced by healthy cells, causing increased cell division. Increased cell division increases the risk of cancer, because things can go wrong with any cell division. The combination of alcohol and smoking significantly increases the risk of cancer. A demonstrable link has been found between drinking alcohol and the development of cancer in the following parts of the body:

Mouth
Throat
Larynx
Esophagus
Liver
Intestines
Breasts, in women

Stomach and esophagus

Stomach inflammation, esophagitis and varices (varicose veins in the esophagus) regularly occur with alcohol abuse. Alcohol irritates the mucous membrane of the stomach wall and causes increased production of gastric juices. Pain and blood in the stool are some symptoms of these conditions.

Liver

Because alcohol is a toxic substance, this substance must be broken down and rendered harmless by the body. The liver plays an important role in this and is heavily burdened by the breakdown of alcohol. The following stages of alcohol-related liver disease may occur:

Fatty liver : due to overload, an enlargement of the liver occurs due to an increase in fats in the liver cells. If alcohol use is stopped, the consequences are still reversible.
Alcoholic hepatitis : Eventually the liver becomes so overloaded that it becomes inflamed. Symptoms such as nausea, abdominal pain, accumulation of fluid in the abdomen and jaundice occur.
Liver cirrhosis : if drinking is not adjusted, liver cells eventually die and scar tissue is formed. Symptoms will gradually occur and the (blood purifying) effect of the liver will decrease. If the effect decreases further, liver cirrhosis can be fatal.

An abnormality in liver function can be determined by doing blood tests on liver values or liver enzymes. If the liver functions less well, other organs will eventually be affected.

Pancreas

The pancreas has functions in digestion and in regulating blood sugars. In chronic pancreatitis, the enzymes secreted by the pancreas start working too early. Normally the enzymes only work in the small intestine, but in the event of inflammation the enzymes already work in the pancreas. This causes inflammatory symptoms that must be treated. Pancreatitis causes an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. Excessive alcohol consumption is the leading cause of chronic pancreatitis.

Diabetes Mellitus

Diabetes Mellitus or diabetes can be caused by long-term excessive alcohol consumption. If, in addition to alcohol consumption, there is also an unhealthy diet and little exercise, the risk of type 2 diabetes increases. The glucose present in the blood can then no longer be absorbed into the cells. Complaints include a lot of thirst, frequent urination and elevated blood sugars.

Heart and vascular disease

Alcohol disrupts the electrical currents in the heart, causing the heart muscle to function less well. Cardiac arrhythmias can be the result of this. An increase in blood pressure may also occur, probably due to the increased amount of adrenaline in the blood. High blood pressure increases the risk of a heart attack or cerebral infarction (CVA). There are indications that low alcohol consumption has a positive effect on the prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Skin

Alcohol use causes skin aging because the elasticity of the skin decreases. Red veins can become visible due to vasodilation. A cauliflower nose (Rhinophyma) can be worsened by excessive drinking, although drinking is not the cause.

Immune system

Alcohol consumption has a negative effect on the immune system. This increases the risk of tuberculosis and pneumonia. There is also a greater risk of HIV infection. Colds are common due to excessive drinking. The treatment of infections is less successful if alcohol is used.

Nerves and brain

Long-term excessive drinking (8 or more drinks per day) can damage the nerve pathways. This causes sensory disturbances in the hands and feet and creates the feeling of walking on thousands of needles. The risk of falls and injuries is greater with sensory disorders.
Brain function is affected by excessive alcohol consumption. A vitamin B1 deficiency in particular is common, which can increase the risk of nerve damage, memory disorders and Korsakoff’s syndrome (alcohol dementia).

Sexuality and fertility

Increased alcohol consumption can cause sexual problems, such as erectile dysfunction, menstrual problems and fertility problems for both men and women. If drinking is not stopped during pregnancy, there is a risk of having a baby with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS).

Other effects

Headache

The infamous hangover is one of the well-known symptoms that occurs after excessive alcohol consumption. The cause is dehydration of the body, which causes a decrease in pressure in the brain. The breakdown products of alcohol and substances contained in alcoholic drinks can also cause headaches. Drinking a glass of water before going to bed can reduce the severity of the complaints.

Nutritional status

Excessive drinking can have consequences for the nutritional status. Alcohol has an inhibiting effect on appetite, which can cause obesity. In addition to the general risks of being underweight, there is an increased risk of vitamin B1 deficiency.
Because alcohol contains empty calories and stimulates cravings for unhealthy snacks, there is also a group that becomes overweight due to high alcohol consumption. The beer belly is a well-known example of obesity caused by alcohol. If you are overweight due to alcohol consumption, the risk of high blood pressure and cardiovascular disease increases.

Source: Left hand, Flickr (CC BY-ND-2.0)

Psychological complaints and behavior

Psychological complaints: Sadness, passivity, depression

Alcohol abuse and depressive symptoms often occur at the same time. It is unclear whether alcohol is the cause of the depression or whether people drink because of depressive feelings. Depression can be provoked by excessive alcohol consumption.

Suicide

The number of suicides due to alcohol abuse is high; one estimate assumes that alcohol was used in 25% of suicide cases. Because alcohol has a disinhibitory effect, impulsive decisions are made. Alcohol also clouds thinking, causing poorer decisions to be made. There is often depression or the consequences of drinking have such an impact on overall functioning that the drinker sees no other way out than to choose suicide.

Chronic aggressive and impulsive behavior

The disinhibitory effect of alcohol causes impulsive behavior to occur. Many violent crimes and aggressive behavior are caused or enhanced under the influence of alcohol. Small irritations can turn into an aggressive reaction. Alcohol abuse is often found in domestic violence.

Social problems

Excessive alcohol use often causes social problems that negatively affect the well-being of the drinker and those around him. Social problems can include reduced performance at work, high absenteeism, financial problems, (child) abuse and relational problems.

Alcohol and liver disease: causes and consequences
Alcohol and relationships
Liver enzymes, improving liver values