Keith's Recovery Story

Effects on Health

Alcohol is a depressant, which means it slows all functions of all the organs in the central nervous system, including the brain. The amount of effect that alcohol has on you depends on the concentration of alcohol in the blood, known as the blood alcohol content. For example, a BAC of .10 percent will be about 4 drink in an hour, as where if you have a BAC of .40 percent, you will lose consciousness. Short term affects of drinking alcohol are stopping the brain from functioning normally, loss of coordination and impaired judgement.Short term intoxication can also cause a hangover the next morning, which can consist of vomiting, headache and nausea. Heavy drinking can result in injury or death from motor vehicle collisions, falls and other accidents. A law has been made stating a person can not drive if they have a BAC of .08, and may be arrested as a result.

Chronic alcohol use can lead to serious health problems, including certain types of ulcers, high blood pressure, heart disease and stroke. Because alcohol is processed by the liver, heavy drinkers are also at risk for cirrhosis, hepatitis, cancer, and other diseases of the liver. In addition, chronic alcohol use can damage the central nervous system, leading to problems in brain function, such as memory loss, impaired learning ability, and general disorientation.