While party life is fun for a short while, some of your choices could come back to haunt you later. Drinking alcohol in excess can lead to multiple undesirable health problems that you probably don’t want in your life. Compound this lifestyle factor with a family history of the disease, and you may have a recipe for poor health disaster.
The good news is that you can do something about it. The bad news is that you’ll want to do it before you start suffering from any of these undesirable health conditions:
Permanent Memory Loss
While most people know that too much drinking can lead to foggy memory and memory gaps while you were drinking, they don’t realize that it can cause other memory problems and loss on days that you aren’t drinking. There is a condition called wet brain that is very serious if left untreated. Wet brain symptoms include confusion, changes in your vision, and even coma.
While it can be treated with vitamin B1 supplementation and alcohol avoidance, it can become even more serious in later stages and lead to permanent memory loss and even hallucinations that cannot be treated.
Sexual Health Issues
No one wants to experience problems with their sexual health. Consuming alcohol too much and too often can do just that. Individuals who party too hard may find it difficult to become intimate. This can be a temporary issue, but in some cases may be long-term. There are other causes of sexual health problems of course, but for those who are already looking to give up drinking, this may be a great reason to say goodbye.
The occasional drink is unlikely to cause problems, but bingeing is a whole other issue. Many alcoholics experience sexual health problems that they don’t realize are associated with their drinking habits.
Heightened Cancer Risk
Cancer is a big disease that most people are too scared to talk about. It’s the one that affects someone we know, and we hope it never impacts us. But did you know that 90% of cancers are from environmental factors, things we can control, and not genetic? This means that there are ways to reduce your cancer risk.
Too much alcohol consumption is responsible for a heightened risk of cancer. It increases the risk more specifically of mouth, throat, stomach, and breast cancer. It can also lead to liver cancer. All of these can be devastating and provide a great reason to enjoy an alcoholic beverage on occasion as opposed to all the time.
High Blood Pressure
Want to improve your blood pressure? Stop drinking. Seriously, alcohol is a major factor in people who experience high blood pressure and the symptoms that come with it. While there are medications that can help lower blood pressure, the best thing you can do is make lifestyle changes that bring down your BP naturally. While obesity and metabolic disease also impact blood pressure, one of the best things you can do is quit drinking regularly. This will help improve your cardiovascular health, reduce your risk of severe illness or even death.
Weakened Immune System
Immunity is hard to measure. But people with weakened immune systems are not only more susceptible to things like the common cold and influenza, but they are also more likely to experience other health problems and may be more at risk for cancer. The immune system also helps you with digestion, brain health, and so much more. You may have hair loss, skin problems, and even more fatigue if your immune system isn’t functioning.
Unforeseen Skin Problems
Your skin is your first line of defense against pathogens and other problems. But it’s also one of the first places to reveal internal issues in your body. From eczema to chicken skin to random rashes and sores, there are plenty of unforeseen skin problems that may arise from too much alcohol consumption.
Final Thoughts on Health and Alcohol Use
There are conflicting studies on how much is too much. But if you’re asking that question, it’s likely that you need to cut back if you want to improve your health. A weekly casual drink won’t cause you much harm, but a daily drink or multiple drinks a day could put you at greater risk for all of these unwanted health problems.
Last modified: April 29, 2022
