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5 Side Effects of Alcohol


Alcoholism is the most awful form of alcohol abuse and inability to manage drinking habits. In other words, alcoholism referred to as over addiction to alcohol, leading to degeneration in health and social functioning. Let us not forget that there is a great consequence or effect in alcoholism; so many people practice it to pleasure themselves, some take it as a lifestyle, others see it as way of civilization and they forget the dangers of indulging oneself into it.

Alcoholism in humans can be traced to genetic and environmental factors. The Genetic factor has to do with the habit of drinking or taking of alcohol possessed and inherited from your family members (father, mother, brother and sister), while the environmental factor deals with social, cultural and behavioral influences. Alcoholism is more common among males and young adults.

Below are five toxic effects of alcoholism:

  1. Liver damage:

Alcoholism causes a serious liver disease like cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is a chronic disease of the liver that usually occurs as a result of drinking alcohol. The more and longer people drinks, the grater their risk of alcoholic liver disease.

Common symptoms of liver disease:

  1. Swelling of the legs
  2. Swelling of the abdomen
  3. Yellowing of the skin and eyes brightening.


  1. muscle cramps

Drinking too much alcohol over time can weaken the muscles. Alcohol affects the muscle fibres which results to alcoholic myopathy and improper functioning of the muscle. People who drink are likely to experience muscle cramping, weakness and eventually muscle death.

Symptoms of muscle cramps:

  1. Muscle twitching
  2. Cramps in the arms or trunk
  3. Weakness of the muscle
  4. Loss of sensation or pain all over the muscle


  1. Lung infection

Research has shown that alcohol abuse can cause asthma, pneumonia and lung transplantation. People who drink a lot find it difficult to fight against bacteria and virus and they are prone to illness like tuberculosis and pneumonia. Too much alcohol in the body depletes the lung of the vital antioxidant glutathione.

Early signs of lung infection:

  1. Stomach pain
  2. Headache
  3. Chest pain
  4. Coughing with brown or green- coloured phlegm.
  5. Difficult breathing


  1. Frequent diarrhea:

Alcoholism has a great effect on our digestive track; it causes delay to digestion and constipation. Research has shown that excess intake of alcohol can kill some helpful bacteria in the intestines. Alcohol consumption can also leads to stomach damage and pain.

Symptoms of frequent diarrhea:

  1. Abdominal pain
  2. Bloating
  3. Fever (malaria fever)
  4. Blood in the stool


  1. Slurred speech:

Slurred speech is one of the effects caused by alcohol. It is a situation in which the central nervous system is deteriorated.

Early signs of slurred speech:

  1. Throat muscle weakness
  2. Inability to communicate effectively


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