Alcohol, the magic potion: science behind the most harmful drug of all (Full Documentary)
Alcohol can be damaging to our health for a couple of reasons. Let’s dive into two main areas:
- Disrupts bodily functions: Alcohol interferes with the central nervous system, which controls things like thinking, movement, and coordination. This can lead to intoxication, but also contributes to impaired judgment and increases the risk of accidents and injuries. Beyond the brain, alcohol can damage the liver, heart, and pancreas, as it struggles to process it.
- Long-term health consequences: Heavy drinking over time can lead to serious health problems, including:
- Liver disease: This is a major consequence of alcohol abuse. The liver is responsible for filtering toxins from the blood, and heavy drinking can overwhelm it, leading to fatty liver disease, hepatitis, and cirrhosis.
- Cancers: Alcohol is a carcinogen, which means it can increase the risk of developing certain cancers, including mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, and breast cancer.
- Heart disease: Alcohol can raise blood pressure, damage the heart muscle, and contribute to stroke.
It’s important to note that even moderate alcohol consumption can have health risks. The current guidelines recommend that healthy adults limit themselves to no more than one drink per day for women and two drinks per day for men [Mayo Clinic, alcohol use].