Effects of Alcohol Intake on Lifespan

Effects of Alcohol Intake on Lifespan

Alcohol is an important aspect of social life in many cultures. Drinking beer or wine at mealtimes or special occasions is a common activity for many of us. However, alcohol consumption can have many negative effects. Heavy drinking is a major cause of disease and injury and also leads to depression, violence and poor relationships. It can also influence longevity and life expectancy. In this article, we will explore the effects of alcohol intake on health and lifespan.

Effects of alcohol on the body

Drinking alcohol in any quantity can lead to unwanted health consequences. This means people who drink moderately as well as those who drink heavily are at risk from the negative health effects of alcohol. Heavy drinkers, however, may notice these effects sooner.¹ The effects of alcohol on the body may be short-term or long-term effects. 

The short-term effects include¹:

• Mood changes 
• Impulsive behaviour
• Nausea and vomiting
• Poor coordination
• Difficulty in making decisions or focusing and 
• Loss of consciousness or blackout

Long-term effects of alcohol refer to more lasting changes beyond mood and health. They include¹:

• Insomnia 
• Changes in mood that are persistent, including anxiety and irritability
• Weakened immune system
• Change in appetite and weight
• Increased tension and conflict in relationships
• Change in libido and sexual function
• Problems with memory and concentration

Physical Effects of Alcohol on the Body

Alcohol can have several effects on the body’s processes, functions and internal organs. These effects include:

• Digestive system: drinking can damage the tissues in the digestive system, leading to poor absorption of nutrients and ultimately malnutrition.¹ It can also cause bloating, excessive gas, heartburn, ulcers or haemorrhoids, feeling of fullness in the abdomen and diarrhea.^1,4 Excessive drinking can also cause inflammation of the pancreas, resulting in pancreatitis which causes abdominal pain.¹ The pancreas is responsible for producing insulin which helps break food down. When it becomes inflamed, insulin production is affected which can lead to diabetes. Excessive drinking can also lead to irritation of the stomach lining, a condition known as gastritis.⁴
• Central nervous system: drinking can cause damage to the central nervous system. Signs of nervous system damage include numbness and tingling in the hands and feet.¹ Over time, drinking can also affect decision making, rational thinking, social behaviour and performance. In extreme cases, chronic heavy drinking can cause permanent brain damage.¹
• Circulatory system: heavy drinking can affect the heart and lungs and increase the risk of heart disease. Heavy drinking refers to eight or more drinks a week for women and 15 or more drinks a week for men.⁴ Complications from heavy drinking can include high blood pressure, hypertension, irregular heartbeat, stroke and heart failure.^1,3
• Immune system: heavy drinking also weakens the body’s immune system, increasing the chances of developing diseases like cancer of the mouth and throat, pneumonia or tuberculosis.^1,3
• Liver damage: drinking can affect the function of the liver, increasing the risk of alcohol-related liver disease. This is a life threatening condition that allows toxins and waste to build up in the body.¹ Heavy drinking can also cause chronic liver inflammation which leads to scarring or cirrhosis. Scarring of the liver occurs when scar tissue forms and this can permanently damage the liver.¹

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Possible benefits of alcohol

Moderate drinking may have some health benefits according to research. Moderate drinking is defined as consuming one or fewer drinks per day for women. For men, it constitutes two or fewer drinks per day.¹ Studies show that people who engage in light to moderate drinking may have a lower risk (between 25 to 40%) of diseases such as stroke and heart disease.² This benefit has been observed in both men and women as well as those with or without existing heart disease.² Moderate amounts of alcohol are able to raise levels of high-density lipoprotein (HDL or ‘good’ cholesterol) in the body, which offers protection against heart disease.² Moderate drinking also improves the factors that influence blood clotting in the body. This helps prevent the formation of small blood clots that can block the arteries in the heart, neck and brain and ultimately cause heart attacks and stroke.²

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Alcohol and life expectancy

Alcohol consumption has been linked with reduced life expectancy. Studies show that excessive alcohol intake is associated with a higher rate of stroke, heart failure and death.⁵ Research also shows that people who drink seven to 14 drinks per week could expect a six-month shorter life expectancy by age 40.⁵ Drinking 14 to 25 drinks per week could shorten your life expectancy by one to two years. More than 25 drinks per week can shorten life expectancy by four to five years.⁵

However, modest drinking may be associated with reduced risk of death. One study showed that modest drinking (no more than one drink a day) was associated with a gain of 0.94 years compared to non-drinkers, and up to 3.97 years in those who never smoked.⁶ Therefore, a little drinking could be better than none. However, alcohol consumption beyond modest amounts was shown to reduce life expectancy by seven to ten years in males.⁶

Although drinking moderately may appear to have some benefits in terms of life expectancy, there is still need to exercise caution. This is because alcohol is addictive and affects judgement, making it difficult to control and limit intake to within two drinks.⁶

In the last few years though, more recent research has emerged to contradict the finding that modest drinking or moderate alcohol consumption is associated with health benefits and longer life expectancy.⁷ Scientists have now discovered that people who do not drink alcohol will not have a higher risk of death than those who consume moderate amounts. This further emphasizes the importance of not recommending moderate alcohol intake for health reasons.⁷ It is advised that people who choose to drink alcohol stay within the guidelines for moderate consumption (one drink per day for women or two for men) in order to minimize any risk of harm.⁷

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Source: https://www.shutterstock.com/image-photo/silhouette-anonymous-alcoholic-person-drinking-behind-284143052

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References

1. Pietrangelo A. and Raypole C. (2022). What are the effects of alcohol on the body? Healthline. https://www.healthline.com/health/alcohol/effects-on-body
2. Harvard School of Public Health (2022). Alcohol: balancing risks and benefits. The nutrition source.  https://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/healthy-drinks/drinks-to-consume-in-moderation/alcohol-full-story/
3. NIAAA (2021). Alcohol’s effects on the body. National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. https://www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohols-effects-body
4. Swiner C. (2021). How Alcohol Affects Your Body. WebMD. https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/ss/slideshow-alcohol-body-effects
5. Shmerling R. (2020). Sorting out the health effects of alcohol. Harvard Health Blog. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/sorting-out-the-health-effects-of-alcohol-2018080614427
6. Liu Y. et al. (2022). The effects of modest drinking on life expectancy and mortality risks: a population-based cohort study. Sci Rep 12, 7476 (2022). https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-022-11427-x#citeas
7. Pelc C. (2021). Moderate alcohol consumption ‘should not be recommended for health reasons’. Medical News Today. https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/moderate-alcohol-consumption-should-not-be-recommended-for-health-reasons

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