adminChronic heavy alcohol use, when coupled with a diet low in vitamin B1 and B12, may lead to decreased vision and over time 75 percent loss of sight. Alcohol can lead to malnutrition and diseases due to low vitamin levels, as it blocks the absorption of many important vitamins and nutrients in the gut.
Being drunk increases the risk of pneumonia (inflammation of the lungs, usually caused by infection from bacteria or viruses).
This is because, at high blood concentrations, alcohol is sedating and relaxes the mouth and throat, suppresses reflexes (like the gag and cough reflexes) and reduces the ability of the lungs to clear mucus and foreign matter, so that vomit, saliva or other substances may enter the lungs and cause inflammation and infection (bronchitis or pneumonia).
In addition to the ways in which acute alcohol use can cause pneumonia, chronic heavy alcohol use also impairs the immune system and changes the bacteria present in the mouth to those more likely to cause infections, making people more vulnerable to pneumonia.
Chronic heavy alcohol use can lead to impotence in men, loss of sex drive, wasting of the testicles and reduced fertility. This is primarily because alcohol affects testosterone levels.
Chronic heavy alcohol use can lead to reduced fertility in women and can make periods heavy or irregular or stop altogether. Consuming alcohol while pregnant may increase the risk of miscarriage, low birth weight, stillbirth and premature birth. Unprotected sex leading to unwanted pregnancy is also prone.
Acute alcohol use can lead to skin flushing and worsen the appearance of skin conditions such as rosacea (a chronic facial skin rash).
Chronic heavy alcohol use, when associated with serious liver disease and liver failure, can also cause yellowing of the skin, decreased body hair and spider veins.
Alcohol also impacts on other people through crime, assault and sexual assault.
Women have higher blood alcohol levels after drinking the same amount of alcohol as men, so can get drunk faster and can suffer the toxic and lethal effects of alcohol poisoning at a lower dose.
Children and young adults are more vulnerable to negative impacts of alcohol on memory and learning, as the brain is still developing up until the twenties.
Young people up to the age of 25 years are at a higher risk of harm from alcohol use than older adults. This is because young adults have the greatest risk of injury and accidents related to alcohol use, an increased risk of alcohol dependence and a lower tolerance to alcohol than older adults.
In this weeka��s article I believe I have answered most of the questions that came through, to learn more on this subject register for a Truth about Drugs Seminar to be held soon in Bulawayo, come and find out the truth about drugs alcohol and other substances of abuse.
Call or WhatsApp 00263772399734 or email [email protected] for help or trainings.
Online Reporter