You see, the kidneys and liver can only metabolize alcohol so quickly. In general, a healthy liver can only process one ounce of liquor (one standard drink) per hour. However, many people consume far beyond this amount while drinking. And, if you go too quickly, your liver will become overwhelmed and vital body systems begin shutting down, affecting your heart rate and body temperature.
This makes speech and coordination — think reaction time and balance — more difficult. That’s one major reason why you should never drive after drinking. If your body can’t manage and balance your blood sugar levels, you may experience greater complications and side effects related to diabetes. But more recent research suggests there’s really no “safe” amount of alcohol since even moderate drinking can negatively impact brain health. Past guidance around alcohol use generally suggests a daily drink poses little risk of negative health effects — and might even offer a few health benefits. You’ll need to go to hospital to be monitored if you have alcohol poisoning.
Your liver detoxifies and removes alcohol from your blood through a process known as oxidation. When your liver finishes that process, alcohol gets turned into water and carbon dioxide. Dr. Sengupta shares some of the not-so-obvious effects that alcohol has on your body. Our mission is to provide clear, accessible journalism that empowers you to stay informed and engaged in shaping our world.
- Eventually, you can develop permanent and irreversible scarring in your liver, which is called cirrhosis.
- Ways that your standard hangover cures won’t even begin to touch.
- Some people may begin to show signs of alcohol poisoning after only four or five drinks within a two-hour period of time.
- For example, some craft beers may have four times the amount of alcohol that’s in a regular beer.
Heart health
It can be hard to decide if you think someone is drunk enough to need medical help. But it’s best to take action right away rather than be sorry later. You may worry about what will happen to you or a friend or family member, especially if underage. But the results of not getting help in time can be far more serious. “Alcohol can worsen the side effects of chemotherapy and drugs used during cancer treatment,” Bevers says, listing side effects including nausea, dehydration and mouth sores.
Often, the alcohol-provoked lung damage goes undetected until a second insult, such as a respiratory infection, leads to more severe lung diseases than those seen in nondrinkers. The gastrointestinal (GI) system is typically the first point of contact for alcohol as it passes through the body and is where alcohol is absorbed into the bloodstream. One of the most significant immediate effects of alcohol is that it affects the structure and integrity of the GI tract.
“Cutting back one drink is a risk reduction, but the greatest risk reduction is going from three drinks to zero,” Bevers says. Men and women who choose to drink have different serving recommendations because of how their bodies respond to and break down alcohol. Your whole body absorbs alcohol, but it really takes its toll on the brain. Over time, alcohol can cause damage to your central nervous system.
Alcohol Poisoning FAQs
These nutrients – which include Vitamins A, B1, B6, C, D, E and K, folate, iron and selenium – help to keep the body healthy, protect cells, create and repair DNA, and reduce inflammation. In fact, the National Institutes of Health (NIH) writes that an estimated 5.5% of new cancer diagnoses and 5.8% of cancer deaths worldwide are linked to drinking alcohol. Excessive drinking can reduce your quality of life, turn into severe alcoholism, and even lead to premature death. Drinking too much alcohol makes you more likely to cause accidental violent deaths.
The “French paradox,” and why researchers thought a bit of alcohol was good for you
Ways that your standard hangover cures won’t even begin to touch. That’s because your body already has processes in place that allow it to store excess proteins, carbohydrates and fats. So, your system prioritizes getting rid of alcohol before it can turn its attention to its other work. Cirrhosis, on the other hand, is irreversible and can lead to liver failure and liver cancer, even if you abstain from alcohol. But when you ingest too much alcohol for your liver to process in a timely manner, a buildup of toxic substances begins to take a toll on your liver.
Gut health
Men are substance abuse counseling definition twice as likely to develop cirrhosis and four times as likely to develop liver cancer. In the short term, even a small amount of alcohol can affect your alertness, affect muscle coordination, and cause you to feel drowsy. If you’ve drunk a dangerous amount of alcohol, doctors may “pump” your stomach. This keeps any leftover alcohol from getting into your bloodstream.