Alcohol and

Its Effects

What are the effects of alcohol in the body?

Nervous System

- damages parts of the nervous system destroying nerve cells and cause blackouts and seizures.

Dementia- a general decline in all mental abilities and can recover by discontinuing drinking.

Digestive System

- increases the risk of developing cancers of the mouth, esophagus and stomach.

Liver diseases >3 Stages of disease when

liver is poisoned:

a. 1st stage- enlarges the liver with fatty tissue. (don not usually feel sick)

b. 2nd stage- the liver swells causing alcohol hepatitis.

( yellowish skin and eyes, abdominal pains and fever)

c. 3rd stage- Cirrhosis; when chronic illness happens to liver cells.

Immune System- reduces immune system function leading to the development of respiratory infections, TB, certain cancers and other illnesses.

Cardiovascular SystemHigh blood pressure, stroke.

Cardiomyopathy - disease where the

heart muscles weaken and enlarge, and blood cannot pump effectively.

Skeletal System

reduced calcium in the bones making them thin and brittle resulting to osteoporosis.

Urinary System

alcohol increases urine flow and continuous drinking cause kidney failure.

Reproductive System

Female- delay of menstrual period; irregular menstruation; may develop breast cancer.

Male- decrease in size of testes and development of muscle mass. Delay in age when the voice deepens and reduce amount of body and facial hair can also happen.

FETAL ALCOHOL SYNDROME (FAS)

This happens when women who drink alcohol during pregnancy and the child born gets permanent birth defects.