Negative health effects of drinking too much alcohol

You won’t necessarily feel alcohol’s impact on your body right away, but it starts from the moment you take your first sip.

If you drink, you’ve probably had some experience with alcohol’s effects, from the warm buzz that kicks in quickly to the not-so-pleasant wine headache, or the hangover that shows up the next morning. Since those effects don’t last long, you might not worry much about them, especially if you don’t drink often.

Many people assume the occasional beer or glass of wine at mealtimes or special occasions doesn’t pose much cause for concern. But drinking any amount of alcohol can potentially lead to unwanted health consequences.

People who binge drink or drink heavily may notice more health effects sooner, but alcohol also poses some risks for people who drink in moderation.

In this article, we are going to look at some negative health effects of drinking too much alcohol. Keep on reading and explore new knowledge.

Negative health effects of drinking too much alcohol

According to healthline, while a moderate amount of red wine may provide health benefits, consuming too much alcohol can cause devastating health effects.

These include:

1. Alcohol dependence: Drinking alcohol regularly may become out of control and lead to alcoholism.

2. Liver cirrhosis: When more than 30 grams of alcohol (about 2–3 glasses of wine) are consumed each day, the risk of developing liver disease increases. End-stage liver disease, called cirrhosis, is life threatening.

3. Increased risk of cancer: Alcohol consumption is a risk factor in 4% of all cancers. The most common types affected by alcohol are breast and colorectal cancers.

4. Increased risk of depression: Heavy drinkers are at a much higher risk of depression than moderate or non-drinkers.

5. Weight gain: Red wine contains twice the amount of calories as beer and sugary soft drinks. Excessive consumption may therefore contribute to high calorie intake and make you gain weight.

6. Increased risk of death and disease: Drinking a lot of wine, even only 1–3 days a week, may increase the risk of diabetes in men. High alcohol intake has also been linked with an increased risk of premature death.