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Depression -

Avoid alcohol when feeling depressed. Taking to the bottle will only worsen the condition, as alcohol itself is a depressant.

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Depression -

Furthermore, alcohol can interact with some antidepressants, like monoamine oxidase inhibitors. Ultimately, pouring a drink to escape emotion is a bad habit; alcohol will exacerbate negative feelings, not alleviate them.

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Anxiety -

Similarly, drinking when anxious is never a good idea. Again, this is because alcohol works as a depressant.

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Anxiety -

A few drinks might make you feel more relaxed, but these effects wear off quickly. And drinking alcohol, especially heavily and over a long period of time, can actually increase your anxiety.

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Dementia -

Dementia is the loss of cognitive functioning, things like loss of memory, difficulty in communicating, and problem-solving.

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Dementia -

Excessive alcohol consumption over a lengthy time period can lead to brain damage. This can only exacerbate the effects of dementia. People who have dementia related to past alcohol use should not drink alcohol under any circumstances.

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High blood pressure -

Having high blood pressure is the result of a number of factors. Lack of exercise, being overweight, and existing medical disorders, such as diabetes and kidney disease, are just some of the causes.

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High blood pressure -

Drinking too much alcohol can raise blood pressure to unhealthy levels. Continuing to do so can increase hypertension and induce other metabolic conditions such as elevating blood calcium and cortisol levels.

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Using antibiotics -

Antibiotics are used to treat or prevent some types of bacterial infection, anything from ear and sinus infections to bacterial pneumonias and meningitis.

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Using antibiotics -

Combining alcohol with antibiotics should always be avoided. Both alcohol and antibiotics can cause side effects in your body, unpleasant reactions such as nausea, dizziness, and diarrhea.

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Menstrual cycle -

The menstrual cycle, or period, can last anywhere from three to eight days, but five days is average. It's typical to experience pain during this timespan, aching cramps brought on as a result of the tightening of the womb.

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Menstrual cycle -

The relationship between alcohol consumption and the menstrual cycle is a complicated one. In moderation, alcohol probably won't affect your menstrual cycle. However, research suggests that in some cases prolonged intake of alcohol can stop or cause irregular menstrual cycles because it increases levels of hormones like estrogen and testosterone. Generally speaking, it's best to abstain for a week or so.

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Pumping iron -

Building up muscle strength typically involves pumping iron. This activity requires focus and, to a certain degree, an already toned and flexible physique. But to what extent does alcohol affect muscular development?

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Pumping iron -

According to the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM), there are three principal ways alcohol affects muscle growth. This it does by disrupting protein synthesis and inhibiting signals to build proteins. It also reduces insulin resistance—which is a stimulator of muscle growth.

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Infertility -

Infertility is defined as when a couple cannot get pregnant (conceive) despite having regular unprotected sex. There are many common causes for infertility, among them a women's age, male sperm factor, and ovulation disorders. But what role does excess alcohol play?

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Infertility -

Drinking while trying to conceive affects both male and female fertility. This includes lower levels of estrogen—a female reproductive hormone—and, in males, a negative impact on sperm quality and reduction in libido.

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High cholesterol levels -

High cholesterol is when you have too much of a fatty substance called cholesterol in your blood. It's caused by a number of things, including poor diet (fatty foods), being overweight, smoking, and, yes, excess alcohol.

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High cholesterol levels -

Beware! Drinking alcohol raises the triglycerides and cholesterol in your blood. If your triglyceride levels become too high, they can build up in the liver, causing fatty liver disease. This, in turn, impacts the function of the liver itself.

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Pregnancy -

The American Academy of Pediatrics is unequivocal in its recommendation that no amount of alcohol should be consumed during any trimester of pregnancy.

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Pregnancy -

Alcohol use during pregnancy can cause birth defects and developmental disabilities collectively known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASDs).

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Losing weight -

Trying to lose weight requires sacrifice and commitment. To shed weight and keep it off, you need to cut calories and burn off calories.

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Losing weight -

Here are some figures to consider. On average, a pint of beer contains 208 calories. Most glasses of wine contain around 120 calories. It's a no brainer, isn't it? If you want to lose weight, keep off the alcohol.

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Intestinal inflammation -

Inflammation is part of our natural healing process, a response to infection, injury, or disease. Intestinal inflammation, however, is often induced by alcohol.

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Intestinal inflammation -

Alcohol's prolonged effects on the intestine include increasing bacterial loads and the permeability of the intestinal wall, allowing bacteria to leak through. Alcohol also affects mucosal immunity by suppressing one of the intestine's main lines of defense against bacteria: Paneth cells that secrete antibacterial compounds.

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Autoimmune disorders -

Autoimmune diseases are conditions in which your immune system mistakenly damages healthy cells in your body. Common autoimmune disorders include multiple sclerosis and rheumatoid arthritis.

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Autoimmune disorders -

Excessive drinking can exacerbate inflammation, often worsening autoimmune conditions. For example, gout, an inflammatory type of arthritis, is promoted by alcohol. The condition is triggered by elevated levels of uric acid in the bloodstream. A buildup of uric acid can form needle-like crystals that lodge in joints, causing sudden, severe pain and swelling.

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Driving under the influence -

And it's worth reminding everyone that under no circumstance should you attempt to drive a vehicle while under the influence of alcohol.

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Driving under the influence -

Every day, about 37 people in the United States alone die in drunk-driving crashes—that's one person every 39 minutes.

Sources: (National Centre for Biotechnology Information) (NASM) (American Academy of Pediatrics) (CDC) (NHTSA)

See also: How to lower your alcohol consumption and still enjoy a drink

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