• Most adults are aware of the outward effects of

alcohol consumption. Balance, coordination, and

judgment are all reduced.

• All of these physical attributes occur because of the

influence of alcohol upon the brain and nervous system.

• Alcohol alters our neurotransmitters. These

neurological signals control our thought processes and

emotions.

Neurotransmitters

• Relative to other body systems, excessive

alcohol use can have damaging effects upon the

cardiovascular system.

• This generally increases the workload for the

heart, often leading to arrhythmia, inflammation,

cardiomyopathy, hypertension, and more.

• These risk factors are centralized in your heart

activity, leaving your body at risk for heart disease

and stroke.

• Alcohol’s effect on the central nervous

system impairs cognitive activity like memory,

reasoning, and judgment. In extreme cases,

blacking out may occur.

• Motor skills and coordination are also

impaired, which include our basic senses like

vision and hearing. Prolonged alcohol use acts

as a depressant to these senses, often leading

to potentially fatal dangers like motor accidents

or falls.

• In addition, long-term effects upon the

nervous system through excessive alcohol use

can include dementia and memory loss.

• The effects on the cerebral cortex from excessive

alcohol use can include poor judgment and lack of

coordination; this can distort the individual’s ability to

manage speech, alertness, and other sensory activities.

• Ingested at high levels can cause vomiting, breathing

difficulties, and possible coma. The abuse of alcohol

generally leads to varying amounts of brain damage,

vitamin deficiency, and other brain diseases.

• Brain size reduction is also a known symptom of

excessive alcohol consumption. In some cases, heavy

drinkers can have seizures from alcohol withdrawal

which may be a symptom of brain shrinkage.

• Alcohol abuse can damage every organ of

the digestive system. Excessive use can put

the individual at risk of mouth cancer, as well

as gum disease. This risk is greatly

increased with the addition of cigarette use.

• This same risk is associated with the

esophagus, which can also potentially

weaken blood vessels within the esophagus,

causing rupturing and severe bleeding.

• Stomach inflammation and irritation is also

a known effect of prolonged alcohol use

upon the body. Other symptoms like

perforation of the stomach lining can

contribute to the possible occurrence of

anemia as well.

• While many believe that alcohol

enhances sexual performance, the

reality is that alcohol, acting as a

depressant, damages the

reproductive system for both men

and women.

• Menstrual irregularities from heavy

alcohol use may cause the failure to

ovulate for women; an absence of

the menstrual period is known as

amenorrhea.

• For men, the loss of the libido, or

sexual desire, may follow. In fact, the

rise of blood alcohol levels can cause

impotency in many cases. Impaired

judgment can cause an overall

disregard for personal safety which

puts both sexes at risk to sexually

transmitted diseases.

• Another health risk associated with the

overconsumption of alcohol is the damaging of

the bones. Younger adults during adolescence

are especially at risk of developing osteoporosis

and weakened bones.

• Excessive alcohol consumption can cause the

stomach to not adequately absorb calcium,

therefore interfering with the pancreas and

Vitamin D intake that the body requires.

• The continual consumption of alcohol in large

amounts can heighten your risk of bone fracture

and nerve damage.

• The effects of alcohol upon the medulla,

or brain stem, causes potential damage to

an individual’s heart rate, temperature, and

breathing. This tends to induce sleepiness

for drinkers, and with excessive use, can

lower the body temperature to a dangerous

level.

• In fact, consuming an excessive amount

of alcohol in colder climates may put the

individual at risk for hypothermia.

• Many of the fatal effects of alcohol

overdose are associated with the medulla’s

function over temperature and breathing.

• The initial step towards detoxification and treatment is

recognizing a drinking problem. This can be done through

the consultation of a professional health care provider.

• Utilizing resources found by calling the National Drug and

Alcohol Treatment Referral Routing Service: 1-800-662-

HELP can help give you additional support or information

needed to recognize an alcohol problem.

• If you are local to Southern California, Yellowstone

Recovery is also an excellent place to start. We can be

contacted at 1-888-941-9048.

• For the past 17 years, Yellowstone Recovery has been proud to offer

patients in-depth, comprehensive, and affordable alcohol and drug rehab

programs in California to over 5,000 men and women.

• From detoxification to group counseling and job placement assistance,

Yellowstone Recovery provides a complete and continuous care plan,

developed specifically for the patient’s own needs. We also offer diverse

financing including PPO insurance plans for our clients.

• For more information, please feel free to visit us today at

http://www.yellowstonerecovery.com.