Alcohol may be an important part of how many people socialise and celebrate, but it can have a negative impact on our lives in a number of ways, as highlighted by Alcohol Awareness Week (1-7 July), coordinated by Alcohol Change UK.
However, while some of the dangers associated with excessive alcohol consumption are obvious, what about the quieter or more surprising ways alcohol could affect your health?
Short and long-term eye symptoms
“Not only is blurred vision one of the main side effects, but drinking can also cause symptoms associated with dry eye,” says Stephen Hannan, director of clinical services at Optical Express.
“This may include red eyes as a result of swollen blood vessels in the eyes, also known as a bloodshot look, itchiness, irritation or discomfort, and fluctuation in vision.
“Although these are only minor problems, long-term alcohol abuse can permanently damage the optic nerves in our eyes, which are the connections responsible for sending visual information from the eyes to the brain,” Hannan adds.
“Stopping alcohol, or drinking less, will allow your body to reverse and slow down many of the short- and long-term effects of alcohol consumption over time. For example, after just 24 hours without alcohol, blood sugar levels will return to normal and blurred vision caused by alcohol consumption will disappear.”
Impaired immunity
Carolina Goncalves, superintendent pharmacist at Pharmica, says: “Short-term alcohol consumption can hinder the activity of immune cells such as macrophages, T cells and B cells, which are essential for identifying and fighting pathogens. This deterioration increases the body's susceptibility to infections and diseases.
“In addition, alcohol immediately affects the gastrointestinal system, the first point of contact before entering the bloodstream. The gut microbiome, a community of microorganisms that aid in intestinal function and the maturation of the immune system, is altered by alcohol.
“Research shows that alcohol disrupts communication between gut microbes and the gut immune system,” she explains. “It also damages epithelial cells, T cells, and neutrophils in the GI tract, compromising the gut barrier and allowing microbes to leak into the bloodstream.
“Finally, alcohol can affect the production of cytokines (proteins that control inflammation), leading to an unbalanced immune response.”
Changes in the menstrual cycle.
Goncalves adds: “Further research has found that the ethanol present in alcohol can alter the way the pituitary gland, which produces hormones, interacts with the hypothalamus, the region of the brain responsible for emotional regulation, and the ovaries. These interactions are collectively known as the 'hypothalamic-pituitary-gonadal (HPG) axis'.
“Alcohol consumption can alter the secretion of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH), which are part of the HPG axis. “This can affect the maturation of ovarian follicles and how ovulation is triggered, resulting in hormonal and physiological changes that can cause irregularities in menstrual cycles.”
Fertility problems
Dr David McLaughlan, a consultant psychiatrist specialising in addiction treatment at Priory Hospital Roehampton and co-founder of Curb, an app for changing addictive behaviour, says: “Excessive alcohol reduces testosterone production in men, as well as disrupting other hormones, which in turn damages the nervous system.” The number and quality of sperm produced by men.
“In women, alcohol alters ovulation and the implantation of the fertilized egg. A recent study by the University of Louisville showed that even moderate alcohol intake of just three to six alcoholic drinks per week reduced the chance of getting pregnant by 44%.
Cancer risk
While cancer can potentially affect anyone and is not always preventable, McLaughlan also points out that alcohol is a known risk factor for the disease.
“People might be surprised to learn that 10% of all breast cancers are attributable to alcohol consumption, which is one of the main risk factors for developing cancer, even at low consumption levels,” she says.
“The International Agency for Research on Cancer declared alcohol a group 1 carcinogen, putting it in the same class as tobacco, radiation and asbestos.”
Absorption and blood problems.
Long-term alcohol consumption also affects the absorption of vitamin B and folate, which are necessary for healthy red blood cells.
“Excessive alcohol” [can cause] “Macrocytic anemia is a condition in which red blood cells are enlarged but ineffective and break down faster than healthy red blood cells,” McLaughlan explains. “Symptoms can include fatigue, loss of balance, tingling, mood disturbances and upset stomach.”
Low mood and anxiety
Alcohol is a depressant that can initially produce a calming effect. However, as Lisa Gunn, mental health prevention lead at Nuffield Health, explains: “When this wears off, we usually see a rebound effect where anxiety levels increase. This is partly because alcohol alters the balance of neurotransmitters and chemical messengers in the brain.
“This also has a social aspect. When we drink, we get drunk and “careless,” which can cause us to say and do things we wouldn't do if we were sober. “If we suffer a ‘blackout’ (periods of alcohol-induced memory loss) during a period of acute intoxication, we are even more likely to wake up with feelings of anxiety, fear, worry and trepidation.”
High blood pressure
Nathan Penman, clinical manager at Nuffield Health, explains that drinking alcohol can also affect blood vessels.
“This can cause them to become narrower. When blood vessels are narrower, the heart has to work harder to push blood through the body, which increases blood pressure,” says Penman. “High blood pressure can increase the risk of developing heart disease, making it more likely that a person will have a heart attack or stroke.”
Changes in sexual desire
Alcohol may initially have a boosting effect on hormones such as serotonin, dopamine and testosterone, which can apparently increase our sex drive. “However, over time, these levels will decline, which will reduce the amount of sex drive a person experiences and could lead to cases of depression or anxiety,” adds Penman.
