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The Effects of Alcohol - the facts

How does alcohol affect different parts of the body?

Brain: Irrational behaviour, aggressive nature, violence, depression, nervousness, chronic anxiety, hallucinations, epilepsy, insomnia, dementia (wet brain), serious psychiatric disorders, alcoholic amnesia, blackouts, damage to nerves.

Face: Skin condition deterioration, puffy eyes, facial discolouration

Throat: Chronic coughing, throat cancer, cancer of the larynx (voicebox), cancer of the oesophagus

Lungs: Increased frequency of colds and 'flu as resistance to infection is reduced. Increased risk of pneumonia and tuberculosis

Heart and circulation: 'Fatty' heart, weakness of heart muscle, heart failure, anemia, impaired blood clotting.

Liver: Liver damage leading to cirrhosis, liver cancer, 'fatty' liver

Stomach and digestion: Severe stomach inflammation, gastritis, peptic ulcer, haemorrhage, vitamin deficiency, malnutrition, vomiting, diarrhoea, duodenal ulcers

Hands: Trembling hands, 'shakes', tingling fingers, numbness, loss of sensation in fingers, peripheral neuritis

Pancreas: Inflammation of pancreas leads to acute or chronic pancreatitis

Kidneys: Impaired kidney function, urinary infection

Sex: In Men: impaired sexual performance leading to impotence. In Women - unwanted pregnancies, increased risk of giving birth to underweight or disabled babies

Legs: Impaired sensation leading to numbness, unsteady gait, falls, causing damage.

Feet: Numb or tingling toes, peripheral neuritis

Alcoholism is the third leading cause of death. Continued misuse can lead to social, legal, domestic, job and financial problems. Your lifespan may be cut by ten to fifteen years and it may lead to suicide, accidents and deaths from drunken driving. If you choose to drink, then drink in moderation.