The truth about the impact of alcohol in your body - Alcohol is socially cohesive, a reason to gather friends, to relieve the stress of our daily lives and even a form of escapism. But, what many people forget about, is the affects it can have on our health. Alcohol affects our bodies in numerous ways. Sometimes, the damage is irreversible and can even lead to death. We dig deep into the impact of alcohol in our bodies and bring you many interesting facts about the drink. Check out the gallery to learn more.

0 / 28 Fotos

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

1 / 28 Fotos

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.

2 / 28 Fotos

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.

3 / 28 Fotos

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.

4 / 28 Fotos

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

5 / 28 Fotos

Sleep - Alcohol consumption causes sleep disorders in most people.

6 / 28 Fotos

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

7 / 28 Fotos

Heart beat - Alcohol consumption also increases heart rate.

8 / 28 Fotos

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

9 / 28 Fotos

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

10 / 28 Fotos

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.

11 / 28 Fotos

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

12 / 28 Fotos

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

13 / 28 Fotos

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

14 / 28 Fotos

Diabetes - Alcohol consumption can cause Type II diabetes.

15 / 28 Fotos

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

16 / 28 Fotos

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

17 / 28 Fotos

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.

18 / 28 Fotos

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

19 / 28 Fotos

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.

20 / 28 Fotos

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

21 / 28 Fotos

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

22 / 28 Fotos

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

23 / 28 Fotos

Libido - Alcohol consumption can also reduce the libido.

24 / 28 Fotos

Fertility - Alcohol can cause infertility and erectile dysfunction.

25 / 28 Fotos

Pregnancy -

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

26 / 28 Fotos

Even more serious -

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

27 / 28 Fotos