How does drinking affect general health?

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href="/en-in/drinking-and-your-mind">Drinking and your mind</a></li> <li><a href="/en-in/support-with-drinking">Support with drinking</a></li> <li><a href="/en-in/about-alcohol">About alcohol</a></li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> </header>  <main role="main" id="main-content-wrapper" class="main-content-wrapper drinkiqmain " data-polltype="motivation"> <section class="article-item pb-0"> <div class="container-fluid"> <div class="article-item-content column-start-1 column-end-13 pb-24"> <p class="article-category mb-16"> Drinking and your body </p> <h1 class="article-item-title h1-lg text-black fw-800 " data-id="{ABBF737A-2B57-470B-BFBC-A052B9358D9A}" data-title='How does drinking affect general health?'> How does drinking affect general health? </h1> <div class="article-description fw-300"> Although the impact of drinking does vary between adults, and for some it’s best not to drink at all, there are facts you can keep in mind. </div> </div> </div> <div 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data-srcset='/~/media/Images/D/drinkiq/Universal/drinkiq--images/in-english/banner-module-images/drinking-and-your-body/how-does-drinking-affect-gen-health-hero.webp' media="(min-width: 992px)"> <source data-srcset='/~/media/Images/D/drinkiq/Universal/drinkiq--images/in-english/banner-module-images/drinking-and-your-body/how-does-drinking-affect-gen-health-hero.webp' media="(min-width: 767px)"> <img class="lazy w-100" data-src='/~/media/Images/D/drinkiq/Universal/drinkiq--images/in-english/banner-module-images/drinking-and-your-body/how-does-drinking-affect-gen-health-hero.webp' alt='How does drinking affect general health?'> <noscript> <img src='/~/media/Images/D/drinkiq/Universal/drinkiq--images/in-english/banner-module-images/drinking-and-your-body/how-does-drinking-affect-gen-health-hero.webp' alt='How does drinking affect general health?' /> </noscript> </picture> </div> <figcaption class="caption column-start-1 column-end-13 text-caption"> How does drinking affect general health? </figcaption> </div> </div> </section> <section class="config-text pt-0 pb-0"> <div class="container-fluid"> <div class="config-text-content column-start-1 column-end-13"> <h2>When people drink too much, the short-term consequences aren't pleasant</h2> <p>Getting drunk will impair your reaction time and judgement, which can lead to you or someone else getting injured <a href="#refs1"><sup>(1, 2)</sup></a>. Too much alcohol can also leave you feeling sick in the moment or with a hangover the next day. And if your drinking has been extreme, you could even end up in hospital with alcohol poisoning <a href="#refs3"><sup>(3)</sup></a>. The best way to avoid these consequences of drinking is to make sure you do not exceed the levels recommended in official drinking guidelines and to avoid drinking altogether if you are driving or engaging in any potentially risky behaviour. </p> <h2>Drinking can be harmful to your health and has different effects on various organs </h2> <p><strong>a. Negative health impact of excessive drinking</strong></p> <p>Many studies have shown that people who drink heavily on a regular basis are likely to develop various illnesses over time, including liver disease<a href="#refs4"><sup>(4, 5)</sup></a>, high blood pressure <a href="#refs6"><sup>(6,7)</sup></a> , <a href="#refs8"><sup>(8)</sup></a> , heart disease and some types of cancer <a href="#refs9"><sup>(9-11)</sup></a> . Research studies have also found an association between light to moderate drinking and the risk of breast cancer for women <a href="#refs11"><sup>(11-13)</sup></a> .</p> <p>The impact that drinking alcohol may have on your health involves factors other than the amount you drink – like your family history, genetics and lifestyle. However, there’s no question that drinking excessively will have a negative impact on your health, regardless of these factors. And it can also affect your mental and emotional health, not only your physical wellbeing. If you have questions about how your drinking may be affecting your health, it’s best to consult a health professional for guidance.</p> <p><strong>b. Impact of drinking on organs</strong></p> <p>The alcohol you drink will affect your <a href="/en-in/drinking-and-your-body/how-does-drinking-affect-the-brain-liver-and-heart">organs</a>, but this effect will be greater on some than on others<a href="#refs2"><sup>(2)</sup></a> . It also depends on how much you’re drinking, on your health and on how efficiently your body processes alcohol.</p> <p>The brain is the main target of the alcohol you drink <a href="#refs14"><sup>(14)</sup></a>. Communication, both within the brain itself and between the brain and the rest of the body, will be affected by alcohol consumption. Drinking too much can slow down your reaction time, affect your coordination and dull your senses, making accidents more likely. Alcohol will also slow down your nervous system and your ability to process information and react, which will make it harder for you to think clearly. And it can affect your judgement, putting you and others around you in dangerous situations.</p> <p>How much you drink will affect your liver, particularly if you drink excessively <a href="#refs15"><sup>(15-16)</sup></a>. It’s responsible for breaking down the alcohol you drink and for <a href="/en-in/drinking-and-your-body/how-does-the-body-process-alcohol">processing</a> the toxic substances that are produced. Since it can process roughly one drink every hour, drinking more than this not only means that more alcohol will enter your blood and make you intoxicated, but also that these toxic substances will build up in your liver. Eventually, all of these toxins will be broken down over time and excreted from your body in urine. But, in the meantime, they can cause serious damage to your liver <a href="#refs5"><sup>(5, 15 , 16 , 30)</sup></a> . People who have been drinking heavily over long periods of time can develop a condition called liver cirrhosis.</p> <p>Moderate drinking may reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke in some people <a href="#refs17"><sup>(17)</sup></a>. But, for others, moderate drinking can be risky. For women, it increases the risk of developing breast cancer <a href="#refs12"><sup>(12)</sup></a>. and may harm an unborn child for those who are pregnant <a href="#refs18"><sup>(18)</sup></a>. Moderate drinking is harmful for young people below the legal drinking age <a href="#refs19"><sup>(19-20)</sup></a>. If you’re a heavy drinker or if you binge drink, you may be putting the health of your heart at risk and increasing your odds of cardiovascular disease. Regardless of who you are, though, heavy drinking is risky for everyone.</p> <p>If you’re concerned about how your drinking may affect your overall health or the health of any particular organ in your body, the best approach is to consult a health professional. Together, you can identify your risk level and the best course of action. To help with making informed decisions, health authorities in many countries have developed <a href="/en-in/about-alcohol/what-are-drinking-guidelines-and-why-are-they-important">guidelines</a> around drinking and its impact on health. In order to minimise potential risk, it is always best to keep your drinking within these recommended limits.</p> </div> </div> </section> <section class="image-with-caption-wrapper pt-0 pb-0"> <div class="container-fluid"> <div class="image-with-caption column-start-1 column-end-13 pb-40 d-flex caption-right "> <div class="image-caption-image column-start-1 column-end-13"> <picture data-animate data-animation="fade-in"> <source data-srcset='/~/media/Images/D/drinkiq/Universal/drinkiq--images/in-english/drinking-and-your-body-captionimages/how-does-drinking-affect-gen-health-inpage.webp' media="(min-width: 992px)"> <source data-srcset='/~/media/Images/D/drinkiq/Universal/drinkiq--images/in-english/drinking-and-your-body-captionimages/how-does-drinking-affect-gen-health-inpage.webp' media="(min-width: 767px)"> <img class="lazy w-100" data-src='/~/media/Images/D/drinkiq/Universal/drinkiq--images/in-english/drinking-and-your-body-captionimages/how-does-drinking-affect-gen-health-inpage.webp' alt='Nurse checking blood pressure of male patient'> <noscript> <img src='/~/media/Images/D/drinkiq/Universal/drinkiq--images/in-english/drinking-and-your-body-captionimages/how-does-drinking-affect-gen-health-inpage.webp' alt='Nurse checking blood pressure of male patient' /> </noscript> </picture> </div> <figcaption class="caption column-start-1 column-end-13 text-caption"> Nurse checking blood pressure of male patient </figcaption> </div> </div> </section> <section class="config-text pt-0 "> <div class="container-fluid"> <div class="config-text-content column-start-1 column-end-13"> <h2>Possible benefits of moderate drinking</h2> <p>Medical studies have found that some people who drink moderately may have reduced risk of some health conditions compared with either people who don’t drink or those who drink heavily. These conditions include heart disease <a href="#refs17"><sup>(17, 21)</sup></a> and Type 2 diabetes <a href="#refs22"><sup>(22, 23)</sup></a>, and improved memory and brain function for some older adults who may be at risk of dementia<a href="#refs24"><sup>(24, 26)</sup></a>. Evidence suggests that these potential benefits apply primarily to middle-aged and older adults. While reduced risk has been reported for both men and women, specific effects may be somewhat different.</p> <p>Research studies conducted over many years and across many countries have found that people who drink moderately also have lower overall risk of dying from all illnesses and injuries combined <a href="#refs27"><sup>(27-29)</sup></a>. This average risk is also referred to as “all-cause” mortality. In other words, on average, people who drink lightly or moderately have lower death rates from all possible causes combined that people who either abstain from drinking altogether or are heavier or excessive drinkers. The more people drink, the more risk increases. </p> <p>This risk relationship is described by a curve that looks like the letter “J” and is often referred to as the “J-curve”. While some recent studies have challenged these findings <a href="#refs30"><sup>(30)</sup></a>, new research continues to support this relationship <a href="#refs27"><sup>(27, 29, 31 , 32)</sup></a>. However, all of these studies on all-cause mortality, regardless of findings, are observational and have limitations. The science in this area continues to evolve.</p> <p>It is important to note, however, that the concept of “all-cause mortality” and the reduction in risk is an average across entire populations. The risk of dying, whatever the cause, is different for each individual and depends on many <a href="/en-in/drinking-and-your-body/understanding-absolute-and-relative-risk-with-alcohol">risk factors</a>.</p> <p>If you don’t currently drink alcohol, you shouldn’t begin to do so for health reasons. Alcohol affects different people differently and risk is not the same for everyone. In order to minimise your risk, it is best to adhere to official guidelines. The UK Chief Medical Officers’ recommendation for men and women is not to exceed 14 units a week <a href="#refs33"><sup>(33 , 34)</sup></a>.</p> </div> </div> </section> <section class="module-link-box pt-0 "> <div class="container-fluid"> <div class="link-box column-start-1 column-end-13 "> <a class="link-wrapper d-flex" href='https://www.nhp.gov.in/Alcoholism_pg' target='_blank' title='Opens in a new window' data-linktype='external' aria-label="Alcohol Dependence"> <div class="link-icon"> <span class="external-link white"></span> </div> <div class="link-content"> <div class="link-text fw-800"> Alcohol Dependence </div> <span class=""> https://www.nhp.gov.in/ </span> <span class="small-link-icon external-link"> </span> </div> </a> </div> <div class="link-box column-start-1 column-end-13 "> <a class="link-wrapper d-flex" href='https://indianhelpline.com/De-Addiction-Helpline/' target='_blank' title='Opens in a new window' data-linktype='external' aria-label="De-addiction help line numbers by govt of India:"> <div class="link-icon"> <span class="external-link white"></span> </div> <div class="link-content"> <div class="link-text fw-800"> De-addiction help line numbers by govt of India: </div> <span class=""> https://indianhelpline.com/ </span> <span class="small-link-icon external-link"> </span> </div> </a> </div> </div> </section> <section class="accordion pt-0 "> <div class="container-fluid"> <div class="accordion-item column-start-1 column-end-13 pt-20 pb-20"> <a href="javascript:void(0);" class="accordion-heading accordion-heading-js"> <span class="accordion-title fw-800">References</span> <span class="accordion-icon accordion-icon-js"> <svg width="20" height="20" viewBox="0 0 20 20" preserveAspectRatio="xMidYMid meet" fill="#2314a7" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"><path fill-rule="evenodd" clip-rule="evenodd" d="M11 9H20V11H11V20H9V11H0V9H9V0H11V9Z"></path></svg> </span> </a> <div class="accordion-content accordion-content-js "><ol> <li> Sullivan, E.V., R.A. Harris, and A. Pfefferbaum, Alcohol's effects on brain and behavior. Alcohol Res Health, 2010. 33(1-2): p. 127-43. </li> <li><a href="https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohols-effects-body" title ="Opens in new window" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" class="Article_typography_link__s55T6"> National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). Alcohol's Effects on the Body. 2020; Available from: </a></li> <li> Jung, Y.C. and K. Namkoong, Alcohol: intoxication and poisoning - diagnosis and treatment. Handb Clin Neurol, 2014. 125: p. 115-21.</li> <li> Seitz, H.K., et al., Alcoholic liver disease. Nat Rev Dis Primers, 2018. 4(1): p. 16.</li> <li> Roerecke, M., et al., Alcohol Consumption and Risk of Liver Cirrhosis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Am J Gastroenterol, 2019. 114(10): p. 1574-1586.</li> <li> Hillbom, M., P. Saloheimo, and S. Juvela, Alcohol consumption, blood pressure, and the risk of stroke. Curr Hypertens Rep, 2011. 13(3): p. 208-13.</li> <li> Puddey, I.B. and L.J. Beilin, Alcohol is bad for blood pressure. Clin Exp Pharmacol Physiol, 2006. 33(9): p. 847-52.</li> <li> Gardner, J.D. and A.J. Mouton, Alcohol effects on cardiac function. Compr Physiol, 2015. 5(2): p. 791-802.</li> <li> International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), Alcohol Consumption and Ethyl Carbamate, in IARC Monographs on the Identification of Carcinogenic Hazards to Humans. 2010, IARC: Lyon.</li> <li> <a href="https://www.cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk" title ="Opens in new window" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" class="Article_typography_link__s55T6"> National Cancer Institute (NCI). Risk factors for cancer. 2015; Available from: </a> </li> <li> World Cancer Research Fund International (WCRFI), Diet, Nutrition, Physical Activity and Cancer: a Global Perspective. 2018, WCRFI: London.</li> <li> Bagnardi, V., et al., Alcohol consumption and site-specific cancer risk: a comprehensive dose-response meta-analysis. Br J Cancer, 2015. 112(3): p. 580-93.</li> <li> Tamimi, R.M., et al., Population Attributable Risk of Modifiable and Nonmodifiable Breast Cancer Risk Factors in Postmenopausal Breast Cancer. Am J Epidemiol, 2016. 184(12): p. 884-893.<l> </l></li> <li> Abrahao, K.P., A.G. Salinas, and D.M. Lovinger, Alcohol and the Brain: Neuronal Molecular Targets, Synapses, and Circuits. Neuron, 2017. 96(6): p. 1223-1238.</li> <li> Rocco, A., et al., Alcoholic disease: liver and beyond. World J Gastroenterol, 2014. 20(40): p. 14652-9.</li> <li> Cederbaum, A.I., Alcohol metabolism. Clin Liver Dis, 2012. 16(4): p. 667-85. </li> <li> Ronksley, P.E., et al., Association of alcohol consumption with selected cardiovascular disease outcomes: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Bmj, 2011. 342: p. d671. </li> <li> Caputo, C., E. Wood, and L. Jabbour, Impact of fetal alcohol exposure on body systems: A systematic review. Birth Defects Res C Embryo Today, 2016. 108(2): p. 174-80.</li> <li> Lees, B., et al., Effect of alcohol use on the adolescent brain and behavior. Pharmacol Biochem Behav, 2020. 192: p. 172906.</li> <li> Spear, L.P., Effects of adolescent alcohol consumption on the brain and behaviour. Nat Rev Neurosci, 2018. 19(4): p. 197-214.</li> <li> Kannel, W.B. and R.C. Ellison, Alcohol and coronary heart disease: the evidence for a protective effect. Clin Chim Acta, 1996. 246(1-2): p. 59-76.</li> <li> Li, X.H., et al., Association between alcohol consumption and the risk of incident type 2 diabetes: a systematic review and dose-response meta-analysis. Am J Clin Nutr, 2016. 103(3): p. 818-29.</li> <li> Neuenschwander, M., et al., Role of diet in type 2 diabetes incidence: umbrella review of meta-analyses of prospective observational studies. Bmj, 2019. 366: p. l2368.</li> <li> Sinforiani, E., et al., The effects of alcohol on cognition in the elderly: from protection to neurodegeneration. Funct Neurol, 2011. 26(2): p. 103-6.</li> <li> Brust, J.C., Ethanol and cognition: indirect effects, neurotoxicity and neuroprotection: a review. Int J Environ Res Public Health, 2010. 7(4): p. 1540-57.</li> <li> Rehm, J., et al., Alcohol use and dementia: a systematic scoping review. Alzheimers Res Ther, 2019. 11(1): p. 1.</li> <li> Colpani, V., et al., Lifestyle factors, cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality in middle-aged and elderly women: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Eur J Epidemiol, 2018. 33(9): p. 831-845.</li> <li> Di Castelnuovo, A., et al., Alcohol dosing and total mortality in men and women: an updated meta-analysis of 34 prospective studies. Arch Intern Med, 2006. 166(22): p. 2437-45.</li> <li> Xuan, Z., Consuming 100 g/week or less of alcohol was associated with the lowest risk of all-cause mortality. BMJ Evid Based Med, 2019. 24(3): p. 117-118.</li> <li> Stockwell, T., et al., Do "Moderate" Drinkers Have Reduced Mortality Risk? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Alcohol Consumption and All-Cause Mortality. J Stud Alcohol Drugs, 2016. 77(2): p. 185-98.</li> <li> Li, Y., et al., Impact of Healthy Lifestyle Factors on Life Expectancies in the US Population. Circulation, 2018. 138(4): p. 345-355.</li> <li> Wood, A.M., et al., Risk thresholds for alcohol consumption: combined analysis of individual-participant data for 599 912 current drinkers in 83 prospective studies. Lancet, 2018. 391(10129): p. 1513-1523.</li> <li> U.K. Government, UK Chief Medical Officers' Low Risk Drinking Guidelines. 2016, UK Government: London.</li> <li> <a href="https://www.nhs.uk/live-well/alcohol-support/calculating-alcohol-units/" title ="Opens in new window" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" class="Article_typography_link__s55T6"> U.K. National Health Service (NHS). Alcohol units. 2018; Available from: </a> </li> </ol></div> </div> </div> </section> <section id="module---two-column-text-with-link" class="two-column-text-with-link pt-0 "> <div class="container-fluid"> <div class="test-and-help-block-wrapper column-start-1 column-end-13"> <div class="container-fluid p-0"> <div class="test-and-help-block column-start-1 column-end-13"> <div class="test-link-block-title column-start-1 column-end-13"> <h2 class="pt-40 mb-16">Are you concerned about the effects of drinking on your body?</h2> </div> <div class="test-link-block column-start-1 column-end-13"> <div> <p class="fw-300 mb-0">Whether it's about yourself or someone else, use our drinking self-assessment to understand the risk.</p> <div> <a class="d-flex justify-content-space-between align-items-center pt-20 pb-20 test-link" href=/en-in/audit data-linktype='internal' aria-label="Take the test"> <span>Take the test</span> <span class="cta cta-round"> </span> </a> </div> </div> <div class="help-section"> <p class="help-section-title mb-0 fw-300">If you or someone you know is drinking problematically, our list of support networks is a good place to start.</p> <div> <a class="d-flex justify-content-space-between align-items-center pt-20 pb-20 test-link help-link" href=/en-in/get-help data-linktype='internal'> <span>Get help now</span> <span class="cta cta-round"> </span> </a></div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </div> </section> <section class="article-link-wrapper"> <div class="container-fluid"> <div class="content-wrapper column-start-1 column-end-13"> <div class="main-title"> <h2 class="title m-0 fw-800">More like this</h2> </div> <div class="article-items-wrapper"> <div> <a href="/en-in/support-with-drinking/can-a-balanced-lifestyle-include-drinking-alcohol" class="article-item-wrapper" aria-label="Can a balanced lifestyle include drinking alcohol?"> <div class="article-content"> <p class="article-category"> Support with drinking </p> <p class="article-title"> Can a balanced lifestyle include drinking alcohol? </p> </div> <div class="article-card-image-wrapper position-relative"> <picture> <img class="lazy" data-src="/~/media/Images/D/drinkiq/Universal/drinkiq--images/us-english/support-with-drinking/can-a-balanced-lifestyle-include-drinking-alcohol.webp" alt="Can a balanced lifestyle include drinking alcohol?"> <noscript> <img src="/~/media/Images/D/drinkiq/Universal/drinkiq--images/us-english/support-with-drinking/can-a-balanced-lifestyle-include-drinking-alcohol.webp" alt="Can a balanced lifestyle include drinking alcohol?" data-source="/sitecore/content/D/drinkiq/Universal/drinkiq/Home/support-with-drinking/can-a-balanced-lifestyle-include-drinking-alcohol" /> </noscript> </picture> </div> </a> </div> <div> <a href="/en-in/drinking-and-your-mind/what-are-the-effects-of-drinking-on-mental-health" class="article-item-wrapper" aria-label="What are the effects of drinking on mental health?"> <div class="article-content"> <p class="article-category"> Drinking and your mind </p> <p class="article-title"> What are the effects of drinking on mental health? </p> </div> <div class="article-card-image-wrapper position-relative"> <picture> <img class="lazy" data-src="/~/media/Images/D/drinkiq/Universal/drinkiq--images/in-english/banner-module-images/drinking-and-your-mind/mental-health-ill-hero.webp" alt="What are the effects of drinking on mental health?"> <noscript> <img src="/~/media/Images/D/drinkiq/Universal/drinkiq--images/in-english/banner-module-images/drinking-and-your-mind/mental-health-ill-hero.webp" alt="What are the effects of drinking on mental health?" data-source="/sitecore/content/D/drinkiq/Universal/drinkiq/Home/drinking-and-your-mind/what-are-the-effects-of-drinking-on-mental-health" /> </noscript> </picture> </div> </a> </div> <div> <a href="/en-in/about-alcohol/is-it-true-that-beer-is-better-for-you-than-wine" class="article-item-wrapper" aria-label="Is it true that beer is better for you than wine? 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