The effects that alcohol have on the body are widespread and range from relatively mild effects such as mile euphoria at one extreme, to alcohol abuse and intoxication in the middle, to unhealthy and destructive effects and drinking problems at the other extreme, such as alcohol dependency, alcohol poisoning, coma, and even death.
The long term effects of alcohol range from possible health benefits for low levels of alcohol consumption to severe detrimental effects in cases of chronic alcohol abuse.
Alcohol is water soluble which means it can be carried around in the blood stream and thus get into every cell causing many different types of harm through out our bodies.
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. In small quantities, alcohol results in a mild euphoria and usually removes inhibitions. This can be described as one of the psychological effects of alcohol.
In excessive quantities, however, alcohol can lead to alcohol poisoning, drunkenness (also known as intoxication), alcoholism, coma, and death. These are some of the alcohol effects on the body that characterize the worst drinking problems and the most destructive consequences of alcohol abuse and alcoholism.
Typically, but not always, the short term effects of alcohol are less critical and less damaging than the long term effects of alcohol. Some notable exceptions include alcohol poisoning and alcohol-related traffic fatalities by individuals who are problem drinkers but who are not alcohol dependent.
Alcohol has a biphasic effect on the body, meaning that its effects change over time. Initially, alcohol typically produces feelings of relaxation and cheerfulness. Increased consumption, however, can lead to dehydration, coordination problems, blurred vision, and a great number of health, medical, and social issues and other drinking problems caused by alcoholism.
