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Alcoholic drinks -

Alcoholic contains ethanol. It is considered a depressant psychoactive drug.

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Brain function - Alcohol severely affects brain functionality. It causes sudden mood changes, affects motor control and speech, slows reaction times, and can cause loss of balance.

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Neurotransmitters - It can alter the function of neurotransmitters, making our reactions slower and less responsive. It also impacts the ability to coordinate movements and potentially cause tremors and hallucinations.

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Memory -

You can lose self-control, your memory, the ability to concentrate and your motor functions can become severely altered.

Alcohol also causes severe damage to brain cells and can permanently damage peripheral nerves.

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Wernicke-Korsakoff - Alcohol reduces vitamin B1, which can lead to the development of Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which causes confusion and loss of mental activity.

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Sleep - Alcohol consumption causes sleep disorders in most people.

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Coma - In large doses, alcohol can induce a coma. In very advanced cases, it can lead to permanent brain damage.

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Heart beat - Alcohol consumption also increases heart rate.

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Blood pressure - Alcohol can also increase blood pressure. The toxicity of alcohol can damage your heart.

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Peripheral vasodilation - Alcohol causes peripheral vasodilatation, which causes redness of the skin and increases its temperature.

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Ulcers and bleeding - Alcohol can cause ulcers and internal bleeding, since it increases the production of gastric acid, causing irritation and inflammation in the stomach walls.

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Cancer - Excessive alcohol consumption can cause cancer to develop in the stomach, larynx, esophagus, and pancreas.

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Esophagitis - Alcohol can cause esophagitis (an inflammation of the esophagus), and esophageal varices.

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Pancreatitis - Excessive consumption of alcohol can trigger acute pancreatitis, which is a severe inflammation of the pancreas.

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Diabetes - Alcohol consumption can cause Type II diabetes.

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Liver - The process of metabolizing alcohol is very slow, and for this reason, it can damage liver tissues.

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Hepatitis - It can contribute to fatty liver, potentially leading to hepatitis and cirrhosis. It can eventually result in liver cancer.

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Jaundice - Excess alcohol can cause jaundice, which manifests as yellow coloration of the skin and eyes and the accumulation of liquids in the body's extremities.

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Dehydration - Alcohol causes dehydration since renal function is changed due to reduced levels of its anti-diuretic hormone.

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Malnutrition -

As alcohol contains many calories and little nutritional value, it prevents the absorption of minerals and vitamins, eliminates the appetite and eventually leads to malnutrition.

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Blood - Alcohol hinders the production of white and red blood cells.

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Anemia - As alcohol reduces the production of red blood cells, oxygen can not be transported, which can lead to the development of megaloblastic anemia.

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Immune system - The lack of white blood cells weakens the immune system, increasing the risk of bacterial and viral infections.

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Libido - Alcohol consumption can also reduce the libido.

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Fertility - Alcohol can cause infertility and erectile dysfunction.

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Pregnancy -

Alcohol consumption during pregnancy may cause fetal alcohol syndrome, leading to growth retardation, changes in craniofacial traits, cardiac, hepatic, renal and ocular malformation.

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Even more serious -

Even more serious is the impact alcohol can have in the fetus' central nervous system, which can lead to mental retardation.

See also: What happens when you stop drinking alcohol?

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