Student Alcohol and Other Drug Policy and Resource Guide 1998-99, University of Maryland, College Park Physiological Effects of Alcohol Alcohol can kill liver, brain, kidney and other tissues on contact. Normal muscular coordination is impaired. Blood vessels dilate causing increased heat loss from the body. Circulation of blood to the heart is impaired. This can be life threatening, especially if mixed with other depressant drugs.
Alcohol slows digestion and inhibits the absorption of vitamins.
Urine production and urination increase initially and then decrease, causing swelling and fluid retention. Alcohol overuse during pregnancy causes miscarriages, infant deaths, smaller, weaker newborns, and more problem pregnancies. In males, alcohol can lower testosterone levels.