The Effects of Alcohol on the Brain

Alcohol has long been part of human socialisation. In most gatherings and parties, beer, cocktail and wine, among others, are staples. Add to that Saturday nights with colleagues at the bar, sharing a few drinks to end the long day’s work or maybe catch up with friends over a couple of bottles.

But did you know that while chilling out with a few glasses may help you release stress, excessive drinking may result in adverse long-term effects on your brain health and overall wellbeing?

Too much alcohol consumption has been linked to brain impairment, affecting memory and overall brain function. Well, you already know that having too much of a drink can lead to forgetting last night’s events. A research on the harm caused by drugs has also shown that people under the influence of alcohol have a 70% possibility of causing harm, both to themselves and to others. But these obvious implications are just the tip of the iceberg, so to speak.

What Goes on In the Body

When we drink, a large amount of our alcohol intake is absorbed in the small intestine, while the remaining part is absorbed in the stomach. Alcohol then enters our blood stream, which causes a rise in blood alcohol levels. The liver and kidney, on the other hand, removes alcohol from our body through urine, however, only about 10% of our intake is taken out.

If you are drinking more alcohol than the amount that your body can flush out, this can result in intoxication. As alcohol enters our body, it increases the activity of the inhibitory neurotransmitters, which cause difficulty in balance, slurred speech and short-term memory lapses. As the blood alcohol levels continue to elevate, the effects worsen – blurry vision, confusion, vomiting and loss of consciousness.

If the blood alcohol concentration is too high, this can lead to difficulty in breathing, slower heart rate and even death.

Habitual Excessive Drinking and Its Long-term Effects

Excessive drinking doesn’t just mean binge drinking – or drinking more than four to five glasses under two hours – it could also mean habitually drinking too much alcohol, which builds accumulated effects on your system.

Most alcoholic individuals don’t just engage in binge drinking, but even more so on regular excessive drinking. They also develop alcohol dependence over time.

The long-term effects of excessive alcohol consumption to the brain and nervous system include:

·        Increased risk of stroke

·        Thiamine deficiency resulting in a state of confusion

·        Dementia

·        Tremors

·         Chronic insomnia Major depressive disorder

Drinking Alcohol during Pregnancy

Alcohol does not only affect the drinkers; for pregnant women, excessive alcohol can also hinder the optimal growth of their babies. Women who are pregnant are advised not to drink alcohol, or at least limit their intake to one glass per week if they are going to drink. Children with physical or developmental defects that are linked to the mother’s excessive alcohol intake during pregnancy are known to have Foetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS).

Children with foetal alcohol syndrome may show signs such as:

·        Physical deformities, affecting especially the face and head

·        Developmental delay

·        Learning difficulties

·        Behavioural problems

Avoiding Alcohol Dependence

The recommendation for alcohol intake is no more than 3-4 units per day for men, and no more than 2-3 units per day for women. If you’ve had an excessive intake, alcohol should be avoided for 48 hours. Alcohol may also not be advisable if you are suffering from certain medical conditions, so be sure to check with your doctor.

In conclusion, although you may not be able to avoid alcohol completely, the trick is to keep your consumption in moderation. Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will also help minimise the effects of alcohol and promote an overall wellbeing.