In today’s society, alcohol is a huge part of many people’s lives.
Whether it be at parties or bars, alcohol is nearly always present and enjoyed by people in a massive variety of social settings.
However, as with anything in life, there are consequences that come with drinking alcohol.
Drinking too much can lead to addiction or chronic health problems, such as liver disease and cancer.
Drinking to excess can also cause blackouts, which may cause you to do things you would never have done sober, and put yourself in dangerous situations.
If you want to live a healthy lifestyle and not deal with the negative side effects of drinking too much, then read on for 4 crucial reasons to consider giving up drinking for good.
1. Alcohol Is A Depressant
As a depressant, alcohol has the potential to seriously alter not just your mood, but also your behavior, and even your neuropsychological functioning.
Classified as a Central Nervous System Depressant, alcohol literally slows down brain function and neural activity.
A lot of people drink alcohol to relax and de-stress.
But this ‘slowing of the neural activity’ comes with a range of dangerous potential downsides.
It makes you more prone to accidents, lessens inhibitions, and decreases your ability to think rationally.
If alcohol ‘depresses’ the nervous system to a large enough degree (such as during alcohol poisoning), you can even experience respiratory failure, a coma, or death as a result.
2. Drinking Alcohol Can Lead To Addiction
According to statistics, about 17.6 million people in the United States suffer from alcohol dependence or full-blown chronic alcohol abuse.
But what exactly makes alcohol so addictive?
The truth is that there are a range of both physical and psychological factors that contribute to your risk for alcohol addiction.
But in a general sense, the root of alcohol addiction stems from alcohol’s ability to stimulate dopamine and endorphin release in the brain.
People get addicted to this because it elicits a pleasurable response, reduces stress, and can serve as a coping mechanism.
3. Alcohol Can Cause Serious Liver Damage
Long-term alcohol abuse can lead to a range of dangerous health side effects, including liver disease.
Consuming too much alcohol over time can lead to inflammation and swelling of the liver.
This causes scarring to the liver tissue—which is irreversible, and can eventually lead to liver failure.
4. Alcohol Has Been Linked To Cancer
Alcohol is a well-known carcinogen, and there’s a lot of evidence for the fact that it increases your risk for various different types of cancer.
Drinking alcohol can increase your risk for:
- Breast cancer
- Liver cancer
- Mouth cancer
- Throat cancer
- Bowel cancer
- Oesophagus cancer
- Stomach cancer
What Makes Alcohol A Carcinogen?
Well, for one, it contains ethanol.
This is dangerous even on its own, as it causes damage to cells within the body.
But even more dangerous than that is the fact that the liver converts most ethanol consumed into acetaldehyde.
Acetaldehyde buildup can lead to irreversible DNA damage, which can, in turn, cause cancer.
In Conclusion
Hopefully, this post has opened your eyes to just a few of the health dangers posed by alcohol.
Sure, it’s fun to drink.
But it’s also dangerous—especially in the long-term.
For best results, consider kicking your alcohol habit for good.
Drink nutritious drinks instead. Options like water or natural tea may not get you ‘tipsy,’ but they’ll actually contribute to better overall health and wellness in the long term.
And that’s honestly more important than anything else.
