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I've stopped drinking as of 6 months ago mostly because alcohol is such a huge problem in our families&communities and impact on our bodies. Not bringing this up to shame anyone but want allow people to make informed choices about their health (will add to this thread w/details)
Alcohol lowers your immune system by disrupting cell pathways and connections that are used to allow the cells to communicate effectively with one another. It reduces the barrier of the GI tract so infections can occur more freely.
Alcohol is considered to be a vasodilator, relaxes your blood vessels at small doses. At high amounts, it does the opposite, adrenaline is increased, blood vessels tighten, blood pressure goes up. Risks for a blood clot or heart failure are exponentially increased
Alcohol also impacts your liver which filters out toxins. The liver attempts to neutralize alcohol but it produces harmful products in its attempt to get rid of it. Some of these products cause inflammation which can kill liver cells. Over time your liver will lose function
Alcohol abuses your kidneys by depleting your bicarbonate levels (an important ion for maintaining blood pH). Alcohol makes your blood acidic so your bicarbonate reserved are used. When they are gone, your kidney have to produce more. Overworked kidneys = risk for renal failure
It causes mental impairment esp less activation in the frontal lobe and centers responsible for judgement and decision making. It over-excites dopamine receptors which why alcohol dependent ppl feel numb without it (creating more dependency)
