The effects of Alcohol
The alcohol in your drink is absorbed into your body through the stomach and small intestine. Food slows down the rate of absorption - that's why alcohol affects you more quickly on an empty stomach.
From here, it's distributed via the bloodstream throughout the body, reaching your heart, brain, muscles and other tissues. This happens very quickly - within a few minutes. Usually, though not always, this has a pleasant effect.
Your body can't store alcohol, so it has to get rid of it - mostly via your liver. First, the liver changes alcohol into acetaldehyde - a highly toxic substance. This turns into acetate, a harmless substance, which is passed out in the urine. Some alcohol is also excreted through the breath and sweat.
Your body's ability to process alcohol depends on various things, like your age, weight and sex. Your body breaks down alcohol at a rate of about one unit per hour - and no, there's no way you can speed this up!
The downside of Alcohol
There's no getting away from it - heavy drinking, especially on a regular basis, can lead to serious health problems, including:
- Alcohol dependence or alcoholism
- Sexual difficulties, including impotence
- Cirrhosis of the liver or liver cancer
- Pancreatitis
- Stomach disorders, such as ulcers
- Mood changes
- Brain damage including memory loss or dementia
- Certain types of cancer, especially breast cancer
- Anxiety, stress, depression, poor concentration
- Increased risk of heart disease and certain types of stroke
- Potentially fatal alcohol poisoning
Even getting drunk occasionally can have serious consequences. It impairs your judgement and can increase risky behaviour, which could result in:
- Injuries and accidents
- Unsafe sex, which could result in sexually transmitted infections and unplanned pregnancies
- Fights, arguments and relationship problems
- Getting into trouble with the police
Even relatively moderate amounts of alcohol can be harmful sometimes. For instance, when you're pregnant, driving, taking some medications, or doing sports or activities that need judgement and coordination.
If you're worried about your own or someone else's drinking, you can call this free helpline, in complete confidence. They can put you in touch with your local alcohol advice centre for help and advice. Call Drinkline on 0800 917 8282 (open 24 hours)
The health implications
Lots of people associate drinking with relaxation, socialising and having a good time. And if you're an adult in good health and with a good diet, drinking within the sensible drinking guidelines probably won't harm you.
Many experts now agree that light drinking - one or two units a day - can also have certain health benefits. There's evidence that drinking at that level may help with your cholesterol and may help reduce development of coronary heart disease in men over 40 and in post-menopausal women.
The side effects
Drinking a lot may make you feel incredibly attractive - unfortunately, it has just the opposite effect. Here are some of the physical changes heavy drinkers can look forward to:
Weight gain
Alcohol is high in calories (a pint of beer or a couple of glasses of wine are about the same as a bar of chocolate.)
Dry skin
Alcohol dehydrates your body and skin, because it blocks the release of anti-diuretic hormones, so the kidneys get rid of too much water.
Broken veins
Alcohol dilates blood vessels near the surface of the skin, causing ugly red capillaries or veins, especially around the nose and cheeks.
Bloodshot eyes
Alcohol can inflame and enlarge the small blood vessels on the surface of the eyes.
Bad smell
The liver metabolises most alcohol, but 5-10% is excreted straight through the urine, breath and sweat.
Bruises and scarring
Serious drinkers are more likely to have accidents or fights, leading to cuts, bruises and broken bones.
How many units?
The alcohol content of drinks is measured in units. One UK unit contains eight grams of pure alcohol.
The UK Government advises that men should not regularly drink more than three to four units a day and women not more than two to three. Consistently drinking four or more units for men, and three or more for women, isn't advisable because of the progressive health risks it carries. After an episode of heavy drinking it is advisable to refrain from drinking for 48 hours. And of course, in some situations like pregnancy , it's better to avoid drinking alcohol.
If you're worried about your own or someone else's drinking, you can call this free helpline, in complete confidence. They can put you in touch with your local alcohol advice centre for help and advice. Call Drinkline on 0800 917 8282 (open 24 hours)
Work out the units
It's the strength and size of a drink that determines how many units it has. It's not as simple as one drink, one unit. So here's a handy calculator to help you work it out. In the box on the left, click His if you're male and Hers if you're female.
Click on the drinks to find out how many units you've had... one click for each drink. If you can't find a particular drink or the serving size isn't listed, you can work out the unit content by multiplying the volume in ml by the abv and dividing the result by 1000.
Links:
http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/
http://www.crisisconsequences.com/
http://www.bebo.com/truthaboutbooze
http://www.alcoholics-anonymous.org.uk/ |
