The National Institute of Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism recommends women consume no more than three drinks a day and seven drinks in a week, and for men to consume no more than four drinks a day and 14 drinks in a week. When consuming alcohol excessively, or more than the recommended amount, there are short-term and long-term consequences for your body.
Short-Term Consequences from Alcohol Consumption
Short-term consequences are negative effects that occur within the human body from an exposure to an irritating substance – like alcohol. Depending on the individual’s weight, height, and physical wellbeing at the time of consumption, short-term effects from alcohol consumption can include impaired judgement, nausea, vomiting, dizziness, drowsiness, slurred speech, blackouts, amnesia, and even alcoholic poisoning leading to coma.
Long-Term Consequences from Alcohol Consumption
Long-term consequences are negative effects that occur within the human body from repeated exposure to an irritating substance. Alcohol can become an irritating substance when used excessively and repeatedly. It puts an individual at increased risk for organ damage.
What Organs are at Risk for Damage from Long-Term Alcohol Exposure?
Organs that are at risk for damage from excessive alcohol intake include: brain, heart, liver, kidneys, and stomach. Alcohol can also damage the mouth, throat, and small and large intestines. Briefly speaking, with damage to these organs, an individual becomes increasingly prone to develop hypertension, liver failure, altered personality, kidney damage, oral and esophageal cancer, and malnutrition.