Enjoying an occasional alcoholic beverage with friends, family, and colleagues is completely normal and very common. However, alcohol addiction in the UK remains an issue. The rise in excessive alcohol consumption hit a worrying high in 2020 during the pandemic, for those over the age of 50. It is now more essential to shed some light on the dangers of alcohol, and the health risks it can bring to one’s body and mind.
It is important for those to know that an alcohol test can be used to keep on top of alcohol levels/consumption. Keeping in check with your alcohol levels decreases the risk of addiction and dependency. Here are some risks of alcohol consumption:
Liver And Kidney Disease
Those who drink may be at risk of facing alcohol hepatitis. This is because the liver plays a crucial role in metabolizing toxic products. If a person consumes alcohol over the permissible level, it may lead to cirrhosis or liver cancer. Furthermore, excessive drinking has also been linked to kidney failure. This is because the high toxicity of alcoholic metabolites can hurt kidney cells.
Career Risks
Did you know that your habit of drinking can become a serious burden when trying to excel and function in your career? Alcohol influences the way the mind and body function. For example, it can impact memory, concentration, thinking, information absorption, and poor decision-making. This is why, it has become common for employers to introduce alcohol testing procedures in workplaces, to ensure that all employees are fit to work.
Violent Behaviours
Alcohol has been linked to violent behaviors in some individuals. This is because when intoxicated, a person loses some level of control of their body, and actions and senses/emotions can also be heightened. This can put yourself, friends, and family in danger if you are not in full control of your actions and decisions.
Alcohol also leads to increased levels of anxiety and depression, which hugely affects the decisions an individual makes.
Pregnancy
Consuming alcohol during pregnancy can have a serious effect on the health of the fetus. Moreover, when a mother is breastfeeding, everything she eats, and drinks can get absorbed into her milk. If a mother drinks alcohol during the breastfeeding period, the alcohol residue will also be consumed by the child and can cause the development of worsening health problems.
Poor Sex Drive
Excessive alcohol consumption has also been linked to sexual health issues. In men, it can cause erectile dysfunction, and in women, it can cause low sex drive, infertility, and irregular menstrual cycles. It is important to check on your sexual health, and if you find that your alcohol consumption may be affecting this, it is always best to speak to a GP or visit a sexual health clinic.
Conclusion
It is important to understand the risks that alcohol consumption can bring to your physical and mental health. Fortunately, there is always professional help available to those who may be struggling with this issue and rehabilitation is an incredibly beneficial program to guide those through excessive drinking and/or alcohol dependency.
