Alcohol and Its Effect on the Body: From the First Sip to Long-Term Damage
Alcohol is often seen as a social pleasure—something to unwind with after a long day or celebrate with friends. But once it enters the body, alcohol affects nearly every organ, from the brain to the liver to the gut.
Understanding how alcohol impacts the body helps us make informed, responsible choices—rather than accidental self-harm.
🍺 What Happens When You Drink Alcohol?
From the moment alcohol enters the bloodstream, it follows a predictable journey.
Absorption:
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20% absorbed in the stomach
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80% absorbed in the small intestine
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Reaches the brain in 5–10 minutes
Metabolism:
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The liver processes 90% of alcohol using the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH)
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A healthy liver can break down roughly one standard drink per hour
🧠 Brain and Nervous System
Immediate Effects:
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Slows brain signaling → relaxation, lowered inhibitions
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Impairs judgment, coordination, reaction time
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Can cause slurred speech, blurred vision, blackouts
Long-Term Exposure:
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Memory issues, cognitive decline
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Increased risk of depression, anxiety, sleep disorders
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In severe cases: Wernicke–Korsakoff Syndrome (thiamine deficiency → confusion, memory loss)
❤️ Heart and Blood Vessels
Short-Term:
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Increased heart rate and blood pressure
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Arrhythmias like “holiday heart syndrome” after binge drinking
Long-Term:
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High blood pressure
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Cardiomyopathy (weakened heart muscle)
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Stroke and heart failure risk increases
🫁 Liver – The Main Organ Alcohol Damages
Alcohol is toxic to liver cells. With continued use, the liver moves through three damaging stages:
| Stage | Description | Reversible? |
|---|---|---|
| Fatty Liver | Liver becomes enlarged and greasy | ✅ Yes (with abstinence) |
| Alcoholic Hepatitis | Inflammation, jaundice, abdominal pain | ⚠️ Partially |
| Cirrhosis | Permanent scarring, liver failure | ❌ No (irreversible) |
🍔 Digestive System & Nutrient Absorption
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Irritates stomach lining → gastritis, nausea, vomiting
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Increases acid production → reflux and ulcers
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Damages pancreas → acute or chronic pancreatitis
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Prevents proper absorption of vitamins like B1, B12, folate → anemia, nerve problems
⚖️ Hormones & Metabolism
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Lowers blood sugar → hypoglycemia (especially in diabetics)
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Increases fat storage → belly fat, cholesterol rise
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In men → reduces testosterone, can cause erectile dysfunction
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In women → disrupts menstrual cycle, fertility, and increases breast cancer risk
🧬 Immune System & Cancer Risk
Regular alcohol use weakens immunity → more infections, slow wound healing
Alcohol is a Group-1 Carcinogen (WHO)
Increases risk of:
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Mouth, throat, esophagus cancer
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Liver cancer
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Breast cancer in women
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Colon and rectal cancers
👶 Alcohol and Pregnancy
No amount of alcohol is considered safe during pregnancy.
High risk of:
✔ Miscarriage
✔ Premature birth
✔ Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD): growth delay, facial abnormalities, learning disability
🧾 Summary Table: Organ-Wise Effects of Alcohol
| Organ/System | Short-Term Effects | Long-Term Effects |
|---|---|---|
| Brain | Relaxation, reduced inhibition | Memory loss, dementia, depression |
| Heart | Fast pulse, high BP | Cardiomyopathy, stroke |
| Liver | Fatigue, nausea | Fatty liver → Hepatitis → Cirrhosis |
| Pancreas | Inflammation | Chronic pancreatitis, diabetes |
| Stomach | Vomiting, acidity | Gastritis, ulcers |
| Hormones | Low sugar, dehydration | Infertility, sexual dysfunction |
| Immunity | Lower resistance to infection | Recurrent illness, cancer |
✅ Final Takeaway
Alcohol may feel like relaxation in a glass—but the body experiences it as a toxin.
Occasional, moderate use may be safe for some—but regular or heavy drinking affects every major system in the human body.
Understanding these effects is not about fear—it is about making conscious, informed choices for long-term health and well-being.
👨⚕️ About the Author
Dr. Srinivas Rajkumar T
Consultant Psychiatrist – Mind & Memory Clinic
Apollo Clinic (Opp. Phoenix MarketCity), Velachery, Chennai – 600042
📞 +91-8595155808 | 🌐 www.srinivasaiims.com