How alcohol affects us over time

Alcohol is a toxic substance that contributes to 3 million deaths each year worldwide and millions more disabilities and health conditions (1). Short-term effects of drinking heavily, such as a headache or nausea, might not feel like much of a concern, but the health effects of each drink can build up over months and years. As well as causing damage to your physical and mental health, alcohol abuse can take its toll on your family, relationships and ability to work or study.

Alcohol effects on the body

One of the most noticeable physical effects of alcohol is weight gain. High in calories and low in nutrients, alcoholic drinks stop your body from burning fat and make you crave unhealthy food. Poor diet is one of the top ten modifiable risk factors for health conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, heart disease and stroke.

Chronic heavy drinking also puts a strain on multiple organs in the body. The liver is responsible for breaking down toxins and, if exposed to alcohol over a long period, scarring (known as fibrosis) and fatty tissue can form. Many people rely on the liver’s natural ability to regenerate to accommodate their drinking habits. But the long-term effects of alcohol can push the liver past the point of no return in the form of cirrhosis.

If you consume a large volume of alcohol in one sitting, you may experience nausea and vomiting. This is also a common complaint associated with a hangover. Alcohol can cause your stomach acid to attack the lining of the stomach leading to indigestion, heartburn, ulcers and, in the worst cases, cancer. In fact, alcohol is linked to seven different types of cancer, including breast, bowel, mouth, oesophageal, pharyngeal, laryngeal and liver cancer. It’s estimated that 3-4 of every 100 cancers diagnosed are caused by alcohol (2).

Alcohol effects on the brain

Alcohol addiction is classified as a brain disorder because it causes changes in the structure and function of neural pathways. In a normal, healthy brain the pleasure and reward circuit kicks in when we do something we enjoy, such as eating a nice meal or going for a run. The brain then encourages us to repeat the action. The healthy brain is also wired to warn you of dangers and limit risky behaviour. An addicted brain messes around with these fundamental processes, having a detrimental effect on mood, memory, speech and judgement.

Long-term effects of heavy drinking can destroy certain areas of the brain, especially parts of the frontal lobe. This is responsible for higher level functions, such as planning, organising and achieving goals. Prolonged alcohol use can also cause blackouts which erases parts of the short- and long-term memory. People who have abused alcohol from an early age, will have noticeable changes in brain structure as they enter adulthood, which can result in behavioural disorders or ongoing mental health problems.

Alcohol effects on work and home life

Changes caused by long-term alcohol abuse affect all areas of life. Interpersonal relationships can become strained, leading to marital breakdown and divorce. Physical disabilities and neural damage caused by alcohol can make it difficult for people to work, leading to job loss and unemployment. The resulting financial difficulties can even result in homelessness.

The good news is that some of the long-term effects of alcohol can be prevented or, in some cases, reversed by quitting drinking. The longer you remain abstinent, the greater the health benefits. The National Institute for Health suggests that five to seven years of sobriety is the peak time for reversible changes but that some of the building blocks for this can be achieved in the first year following an alcohol rehabilitation programme.