Drinking too much or too often can interfere with your brain, heart, liver, and immune system’s ability to work properly, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Here’s how alcohol can affect your body:
Brain: Drinking can lead to mood and behavioral changes and disrupt communication pathways. This can make it harder to concentrate and coordinate.
Heart: Too much alcohol can damage the heart. This can cause issues like high blood pressure, stroke, and cardiomyopathy.
Liver: The heavier you drink, the more likely you are to develop liver diseases like fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis.
Pancreas: Drinking often or in high amounts can increase the risk of developing pancreatitis. This is an inflammation of the pancreas that can be very painful and lead to digestive problems.
Immune system: Chronic drinkers are more likely to get sick because of a weakened immune system. This can make them more susceptible to serious illnesses like pneumonia.
Cancer: Alcohol can cause multiple types of cancers, according to the National Cancer Institute. This includes liver cancer, head and neck cancer, breast cancer, colon cancer, and esophageal cancer.