In addition, alcohol also affects magnesium levels in the brain causing brain blood vessel spasms . This is also a fatal combination. The spasms lead to more hypertension in the brain, busting vessels and causing strokes. Hypertension is simply increased pressure in the blood vessels. When the liver is damaged, the blood can ' t circulate well .
Blood then backs up in the blood vessels which congests the portal veins in the liver.
Pooling blood in the portal system, a weakened heart , and hypertension from drinking adds incredible pressure to those damaged veins, causing them to finally burst and explode . An example of this is esophageal varixes . As discussed earlier, chronic drinking damages the esophagus and weakens its blood vessels. This increased pressure actually causes this vein to explode and the person usually bleeds to death in a few minutes. Abstinence can ' t reverse the varicosed vein, but it will lower the blood pressure and prolong life .