Curious about what happens if you drink bad alcohol? Learn about the risks and consequences of consuming contaminated or tainted alcohol to protect your health and well-being.
Alcohol poses many risks to our bodies. We are talking about a toxic and psychoactive substance with addictive properties. However, since alcoholic beverages are part of the social routine of many people all over the world, their negative effects are not always given due importance.
According to data from the World Health Organization (WHO), alcohol consumption contributes to three million deaths every year on the planet, in addition to harming the health of millions of people. Overall, alcoholism accounts for 5.1% of health-related problems globally, with the rate being 7.1% among men and 2.2% among women. Furthermore, alcohol is the main risk factor for premature mortality in people aged 15 to 49, accounting for 10% of deaths in this age group.
To understand the extent of the dangers of alcohol on the human body, we have listed below the main effects it can cause on our organism:
What Happens If You Drink Bad Alcohol.
1. Brain changes
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, that is, a substance that reduces brain activity by altering the action of neurotransmitters such as gamma-aminobutyric acid, glutamate and serotonin. As a person drinks alcohol, the body reacts in a certain way, following certain stages.
When the blood alcohol concentration is low (between 0.01 and 0.12 grams/100 milliliters), the individual tends to become uninhibited, relaxed and euphoric. As this amount increases, other reactions appear, such as slow reflexes, attention problems, memory loss, changes in reasoning ability and lack of balance. At very high levels (from 0.40 grams/100 milliliters), there may be severe intoxication and cardiorespiratory arrest, with the possibility of neurological sequelae and even death.
2. Inflammatory diseases
The liver is an organ that helps eliminate substances that are harmful to the body, including alcohol. Prolonged alcohol use can interfere with this process. Alcoholism also increases the risk of inflammation and disease in this organ. The scar left by chronic inflammation is irreversible and is known as cirrhosis. The more damaged the liver is, the more impaired its ability to perform its functions will be, in addition to leading to an increased risk of cancer in the affected tissue.
3. Stomach irritation
In addition to the well-known symptoms of nausea, vomiting and nausea, alcohol can cause irritation, infections or erosions in the gastric mucosa, resulting in acute gastritis. This happens because the drink reaches the gastrointestinal tract first, increasing the secretion of hydrochloric acid. The result is abdominal pain, burning, heartburn, loss of appetite and recurrent vomiting.
Sexual and reproductive health problems
Men who drink excessively may experience erectile dysfunction. Alcoholism can also reduce hormone production, decreasing sexual appetite. Women who drink excessively may experience hormonal changes that affect and may harm fertility. Alcohol consumption during pregnancy can trigger different problems depending on the stage of fetal development: from malformation to premature birth or miscarriage. Children whose mothers drank during pregnancy may grow up with learning disabilities and chronic health problems.
Cancer
Several scientific studies have found associations between alcohol consumption and various types of cancer. Evidence indicates that the more alcohol a person consumes – especially if this consumption is consistent over time – the greater the risk of developing some type of cancer associated with drinking.
Some of the types of cancer most frequently associated with alcoholism are: head and neck (mainly those of the mouth, pharynx and larynx), esophagus, liver and colorectal.