There is a good reason that people tell you not to drive when you have been drinking. Do you have any idea what happens to your brain when you’re drinking alcohol? There are a number of physiologic changes that occur with alcohol, not the least of which are the loss of ability to maintain coordination and reflexes, and the loss of ability to make good judgments. Here are some facts – and warnings – about the effects of alcohol on the brain:
- There are both short-term and long-term risks for drinking when it comes to your brain. The impairments that one develops from drinking depend in part on how much alcohol they drink and how often.
- Short-term impairments include: memory loss, poor judgment and decision making, impairments in vision, speech, balance and coordination, and sedation, behavioral changes, and others.
- Blackouts can occur with alcohol intoxication and can lead to further serious injury from falling or accidents, and even death.
- Long-term effects of chronic drinking on the brain include all of the short term effects but also actual permanent brain damage with shrinkage of the brain. People can also develop dementia from excessive and long-term alcohol consumption.
- Parts of the brain help control heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure. When a person consumes a toxic amount of alcohol, these systems in the body can be threatened. It can even lead to death.
- One of the most serious brain disorders a person who drinks may develop is Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which results from a thiamine deficiency caused by excessive drinking. People with this condition often develop physical symptoms such as difficulty walking or carrying out the tasks of day-to-day living, and they may have severe mental impairments that interfere with memory and learning.
- One of the worst things a woman can do is drink while she is pregnant. Alcohol can have a severe impact on the baby’s developing brain. The baby might be born with fetal alcohol syndrome, which severely affects the physical appearance and mental capacity of the child. A woman who is pregnant simply should not drink.
An occasional drink at social occasions might be fine for some people who do not have addictive tendencies. But there’s a big difference between having one or two drinks and drinking to the point of drunkenness and impairment. The latter puts the drinker and others in danger. A person who has had more than one or two drinks should not drive. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving, in the United States a death from drunk driving occurs at least every 33 minutes.
If you suspect you have a drinking problem, get help from a healthcare professional, a family member, or an organization such as Alcoholics Anonymous.
For More Information:
Alcoholics Anonymous http://www.aa.org/
Mothers Against Drunk Driving. http://www.madd.org/ |
