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Warning!! Please do not open or attempt to read the following post. Some of you might find it difficult not to open it but it's alright. You are in the right place.

Today we will be discussing and talking about alcohol and it's very serious health effects and since you are here, i won't waste any more time.So lets get to it.We will start by defining the meaning of drug since alcohol is considered a drug.

A drug is a chemical substance that has the ability to alter or change how a person's brain and body functions when taken.It can either be ingested, snorted or smoked. There is drug use and drug abuse.

Drug or substance abuse is the consistence patterned use of a drug where one consumes the substance in quantities which are harmful to them or other people around them. 

Drug use is the using of a substance for it's main intended purpose;mainly  for medicinal purposes.

ALCOHOL

This is one of the commonly used substances worldwide. It's a drug that has been used for centuries and actually has been part of the human culture for so long. It is legal and easily accessible since it's sold openly in the street liquor stores,pubs,clubs and even supermarkets. 

There are various types of alcoholic beverages which include fermented beverages like wine/beer and distilled ones like vodka,whisky,brandy,tequila e.t.c. The named beverages contain some quantity of alcohol known as ethanol. Consuming them regularly becomes addictive and you may be putting your physical and mental health at risk.

Alcohol is rated as the second most addictive substance in the world. Statistics have shown that 22% of young  people who have taken alcohol develop dependence on it at some point during their life.Research also lists and puts alcohol as the most damaging of the substances with 5.9% deaths around the world. The following are  some of the things that happens to our bodies when we take alcohol.

Blackouts.

It interferes with how your brain makes and constructs memories. One is capable of waking up with no idea or recollection of what they did while you were drinking or even before.

Diminished brain size.

Long term drinking of alcohol can lead to the shrinking of a person's brain.When taken in large quantities,it causes the frontal lobes of your brained to reduce in size.

Damages the liver.

The function of the liver is to detoxify chemicals and metabolize drugs. Heavy drinking of alcohol can damage the liver and prevent it from removing toxin/harmful substances from the body. It increases risk of chronic liver inflammation and liver disease. The scarring caused by this inflammation is called cirrhosis.

Pancreas damage

Abnormal activation of digestive enzymes produced by the pancreas due to too much drinking can lead to inflammation of the pancreas known as pancreatitis.

Heart damage.

Cardiovascular disease is often caused by chronic drinking of alcohol. People who drink alcohol have a higher risk of heart-related issues compared to people who hardly drink

Malnutrition

Alcohol prevents the body from properly absorbing the vitamins and minerals from foods you eat. Drinking is capable of damaging the tissues in digestive tract and prevent the intestines from digesting and absorbing vitamins and nutrients. Heavy drinking affects the digestive system in many other ways and can lead to bloating of the stomach, gassiness, diarrhea and a feeling of fullness in the abdomen.

Cancer

Chronic drinking may lead to mouth, throat,colon ,liver or oesophagus cancers. Women who drink excessively are at the risk of getting breast cancer.

Change in co-ordination

Excessive drinking interferes with your co-ordination and your ability to walk or balance. 

Dependency

Since alcohol is the second most addictive substance,withdrawal can be really difficult and at some point life-threatening. Most of the times alcohol withdrawal requires professional assistance. There are certain withdrawal symptoms that occur when one quits drinking.They include nausea, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure,anxiety,panic attacks, nervousness, heavy sweating tremors or hallucinations. One may become emotionally or physically dependent on alcohol.

Slurred speech

This the first immediate sign of excessive alcohol consumption. Alcohol reduces communication between your brain and body.

Lung infections

Frequent drinkers have a hard time fighting off bacteria and viruses and they are more vulnerable or susceptible to diseases like pneumonia and tuberculosis.

Sexual and reproductive problems

Men who take a lot of alcohol are most likely to experience erectile dysfunction. Drinking too much can also cause infertility. A pregnant woman's heavy drinking may lead to baby's risk for a number of conditions such as mental development issues and fetal alcohol syndrome. It may also lead to miscarriage or premature delivery.

Diabetes

Alcohol can lead to improper balance of blood sugar levels in the body. Excess consumption of alcohol leads to the damage of the pancreas and liver.Since the pancreas is responsible for regulation of insulin in the body and response to glucose, if the pancreas and liver aren't functioning as required the body is at the risk of experiencing hypoglycemia or low blood sugar. A damaged pancreas prevents the body from producing enough insulin to utilize sugar. This causes hyperglycemia or high blood sugar. An improper balance of blood sugar levels leads to diabetes.

However, drinking alcohol in modest amounts can help people feel more social-able and relaxed. There is a safe way to consume alcohol. If you are a daily alcohol drinker,in-order to stay healthy consume alcohol in the smallest quantities as possible. And always remember not to drink and drive or drink and operate heavy machinery. 

Thanks for taking your time to read.

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