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Effects of Heavy Alcohol Consumption on the heart

Updated on 19 January 2021
study24x7
Class12Medical
6 min read 4 views
Updated on 19 January 2021

The heart is the most important part of the human body. The heart is the medium through which a body functions. The circulation of blood keeps the body running. Therefore, it is important to take care of heart health.


What is the importance of heart?


The heart is the most important part and is located in the middle of the circulatory system. There is a whole network of veins and vessels that helps in the circulation of blood to each and every part of the body. Blood contains several nutrients that can help fight the body from various diseases. Moreover, blood carries oxygen which stimulates and stabilizes the body. Therefore, the heart valves are very important.


Now, what happens when your heart is not well i.e. cardiovascular disease? There are several heart health medicines that can help and stabilize the body in case you are having any cardiovascular health problems. Medicines like Statins, Aspirin, Beta – Blockers, Warfarin, ACE Inhibitors are some of the best medicines used for cardiovascular diseases. These medicines help in preventing blood clots and risks related to heart attacks.  


According to the Harvard Heart Health report, there are five habits that you can undertake to save your heart from such diseases. 


  1. Avoid Cigarettes: Smoking is injurious to health. This statutory warning is read by all but adhered to by only some people. Cigarette smoking blocks the arteries that supply blood to your heart. You can get a deadly disease like lung cancer as well. Therefore, you must avoid tobacco in order to have a safe and healthy living.


  1. Practice Yoga: Physical activity and yoga must be practiced in order to have a healthy lifestyle. Yoga reduces stress levels and increases blood circulation. Practice activities like skipping, running, jogging so that no cardiovascular ailment hits you. 


  1. Healthy Weight: Extra weight around the abdomen area can be risky as you might be prone to diabetes. Therefore, you must try to remain in shape and work out regularly to avoid health problems. 


  1. Have a Healthy Diet: Having a healthy diet is very necessary. Add fruits and vegetables to your diet along with a relative amount of proteins and carbohydrates. Eat and drink poultry and farm products. A healthy diet is an important step in releasing yourself from ailments.  


  1. Drink a limited amount of Alcohol: It is better that you do not drink at all. But if you want to drink, you must take a minimal amount of alcohol. Drink occasionally, so that no risk related to the heart is involved. 



These are some of the ways which you can undertake in order to maintain a healthy lifestyle. Alcohol is normally taken by every other individual. But excess alcohol can be very dangerous. This can affect your body in many ways. Having said that, now let’s take a look at the effect of intoxication on the nervous system.


Alcohol can have many negative effects. It can affect various parts including the brain i.e. the Brain cells are damaged if alcohol intake is not regulated. It can even cause loss of memory and impulsive behavior. 


How does alcohol affect the digestive system? Alcohol affects the digestive system gravely where it upsets your stomach badly. Gastritis is caused by this which is a medical condition in which inflammation is caused on the stomach lining. This further leads to various infections like vomiting, body-ache, diarrhea and more. Therefore, alcohol harms the stomach and destroys the digestion of the body. In the long run, it can affect the pancreas. So, proper care is needed if your digestive system is affected.


How does alcohol affect the endocrine system? Alcohol destroys the body as a whole beginning with the vulnerable parts and reaching up to the stronger parts. Alcohol affects the endocrine system thereby, slowing the process of the body of absorbing calcium.


Calcium is needed to make your bones strong but this is hindered by alcohol. People who are regular drinkers can have a disease called osteoporosis, a condition where the bone density decreases. Once, this happens, the individual is on prolonged bed rest. There is hormonal imbalance, thyroid problems, immune imbalances and cancers within the body which comes with osteoporosis.


How does alcohol affect the excretory system? Alcohol can cause infections in the excretory system which affects the ability of the body to fight them. With more intakes, the urination rate also increases thereby, causing pressure on the gall bladder. This can further lead to widespread infections in kidneys and other parts of the body.


In the worst case scenario, people can suffer from renal failure (Gall Bladder is inflamed) which is a deadly ailment. There is a stabbing pain in chest after drinking alcohol. Therefore, alcohol must be avoided at all costs and if at all you have to drink then, do so occasionally. In this way, the body will recover itself. Thus, alcohol intake must be regulated.             


Now, what happens in alcohol overdose? Many people ask this question and wonder what happens when you have an excessive intake of alcohol. Well, alcohol affects the respiratory system, digestive system and many more.


Firstly, the stomach and the small intestine absorbs the alcohol that you intake. If you drink more, more amount of alcohol is entered into your bloodstream which might lead to several infections and ailments. People experience tight chest after drinking alcohol. Secondly, the liver is badly affected in case of excessive drinking. The ability of the liver to metabolize the alcohol is hampered. Thus, an overdose of alcohol affects the areas where alcohol absorption takes place.     


Can alcohol cause breathing problems? Well, the answer to this is yes. Alcohol can cause breathing problems and other pulmonary diseases such as lung cancer, pneumonia and many more. Acute Respiratory Distress Syndrome (ARDS) is caused by alcohol.


In worst case scenario, an individual can experience alcoholic cardiomyopathy death. In this condition, the heart muscles stop contracting and they thicken up. The other parts of the body are not able to get a sufficient amount of blood. In this situation, you first feel fatigued and then there is shortness of breath. Thus, alcohol causes breathing problems. 


Alcohol has many negative effects on the body. Intoxications always lead to many infections and ailments in the body. So, it is often advised to eat healthily and practice yoga.


There are various heart health medicines that people intake in order to release themselves from diseases. The health of the heart is very important. So, you must take care of your heart and try to keep yourself away from cardiovascular diseases. You can do this by quitting alcohol. A regular drinker has many health problems as stated above. Therefore, you must not have an excessive intake of alcohol as it can damage your entire body.  


Related Article:

Changes in the immune system


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