Alcohol Hangover Symptoms, Causes And Effects

Over consumption of alcohol invariably results in a hangover; just how much alcohol is necessary to produce one depends on the biochemical individuality of the consumer, and the type of drink consumed. Distilled liquors, such as whiskey and gin, have a more immediate impact than wines or beers, and all alcohol is absorbed more quickly when mixed with a carbonated beverage. Once in the bloodstream, alcohol reaches the brain in minutes. At first it acts as a stimulant, producing euphoria. This soon gives way to central nervous system depression and feelings of numbness, and finally to sleep or unconsciousness.

Rapid ingestion of a large amount of alcohol can be fatal. The severity of a hangover is partially influenced by congeners, by-products of the fermentation process that contribute to the taste and aroma of an alcoholic beverage. The more congeners in a drink, the more severe a hangover may be. Brandy has the greatest number of congeners, followed by red wine, rum, whiskey, white wine, gin, and vodka.

Alcohol also interferes with the body's metabolism of various vitamins and minerals. Women at risk for breast cancer should moderate their consumption. It has been shown that those who consume alcohol daily have a higher risk of breast cancer than those who do not, The risk increases with amount of alcohol consumed.

Even a weekend of heavy drinking causes a buildup of fatty cells in the liver. While this organ has remarkable recuperative powers, continued use of alcohol can lead to permanent liver damage and problems with glucose metabolism, and eventually scarring, or cirrhosis.

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The Mental and Psychological Effects of Alcoholism

The effects that alcoholism has on the body are well documented. Everyone knows how heavy, problem drinking can lead to rapid deterioration of a personal health and internal organs. What is discussed less frequently, but in many ways equally damaging, is the toll alcohol abuse takes on the mind. The following are some of the most significant mental effects of alcoholism and how they negatively impact the individual.

A diminished self-esteem. The behavior of the alcoholic leads them to be looked down upon by family and friends. This often leads to lower self-esteem, which can perpetuate the cycle of problem drinking. Simply put, the worse a person feels about themselves, the more likely they are to go looking for escape in a bottle. This loss of self-esteem can lead to other problems as well, including: poor performance at work and withdrawal in common social situations.

Poor judgment. The alcoholic makes bad decisions. During their impaired state under the influence, they are likely to lie to the people they care about, steal, or engage in other destructive mental behavior. The alcoholic becomes a person that nobody wants to be around.

Reduced inhibitions. Problem drinking causes many people to temporarily lose their inhibitions. This can lead to a multitude of problems - all associated with unprotected sex with multiple partners. These serious issues include sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted or unplanned pregnancy and rape.

Loss of sexual interest. On the flip-side of the reduced inhibitions "coin", is the lack of sexual interest brought on by alcoholism. Many alcoholics replace the love and affection of their partners with the solace they find in their drinking. Also, erectile dysfunction becomes more prevalent in heavy drinkers-leading to abstinent behavior with the alcoholic's spouse or significant other.

Exaggerated emotions. Alcoholics are prone to extreme moods and mood swings. Unable to cope with problems on a rational level, the alcoholic will grow deeply depressed at the smallest things, and have a hard time bouncing back from the curveballs life throws at us all. Conversely, the problem drinker may get extremely happy and excitable during a drinking binge, only to "crash and burn" when that high period ends.

Memory loss. An alcoholic is likely to drink so much that they experience blackouts - periods where they cannot remember anything about their actions. Memory loss due to alcohol abuse is psychologically damaging and highly self-destructive in nature. Although he personally has no memory of it, the alcoholic may say or do things to friends and family, that leave emotional scars that take a great deal of time to heal.

Increased aggression. Violent, aggressive behavior is common among male (and may times female) alcoholics. The loss of inhibitions, coupled with the destruction of brain cells caused by drinking can create abusive behavior in alcohol abusers. Spousal abuse and street fighting are often the result of alcoholism and binge drinking.

Effects on children. Alcohol abuse doesn't only effect the drinker. Children can be negatively impacted as well. With a parent who is experiencing significant mental issues associated with alcoholism, the child's development may be stunted - they have a good chance growing up with significant learning and anger management issues. Without a reliable parent, the child is liable to grow up lacking the trust and self-confidence necessary to succeed.

It's obvious that alcoholism affects behavior as much as it does our physical capacities. The psychological impact of alcoholism, however, is in many ways worse than the physical counterpart, because it not only affects the drinker himself, but those around him as well.

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