Eventually, regular heavy drinking may cause at least one of the following problems:
Fatigue: The person feels tired most of the time.
Memory loss: Alcohol affects the short-term memory in particular.
Eye muscles: The eye muscles can become significantly weaker.
Liver diseases: There is a higher chance of developing hepatitis and cirrhosis, an irreversible and progressive condition.
Gastrointestinal complications: Gastritis or pancreas damage can occur. These will undermine the body's ability to digest food, absorb certain vitamins, and produce hormones that regulate metabolism.
Hypertension: Regular heavy drinking is likely to raise blood pressure.
Heart problems: There is a higher risk of cardiomyopathy (damaged heart muscle), heart failure, and stroke.
Diabetes: There is a high risk of developing diabetes type 2, and people with diabetes have a high chance of complications if they regularly consume more alcohol than is recommended. Alcohol prevents the release of glucose from the liver, resulting in hypoglycemia. If a person with diabetes is already using insulin to lower their blood sugar levels, hypoglycemia could have serious consequences.
Menstruation: Excessive consumption of alcohol can stop or disrupt menstruation.
Erectile dysfunction: There may be problems getting or sustaining an erection.
Fetal alcohol syndrome: Consuming alcohol during pregnancy increases the risk of birth defects. The newborn may have a small head, heart problems, shortened eyelids, and developmental and cognitive problems.
Thinning bones: Alcohol interferes with the production of new bone, leading to a thinning of the bones and an increased risk of fractures.
Nervous system problems: There may be numbness in the extremities, dementia, and confused or disordered thinking.
Cancer: There is a higher risk of developing several cancers, including cancer of the mouth, esophagus, liver, colon, rectum, breast, prostate, and pharynx.
Accidents: There is a higher chance of injuries from falls, road traffic accidents, and so on.
Domestic abuse: Alcohol is a major factor in spouse-beating, child abuse, and conflicts with neighbors.
Work or school problems: Employment or educational problems and unemployment are often alcohol-related.
Suicide: Suicide rates among people with alcohol dependence or who consume alcohol inappropriately are higher than among those who do not.
Mental illness: Alcohol abuse increases the risk of mental illness, and it can make existing mental illnesses worse.
Problems with the law: People who consume alcohol are significantly more likely to spend time in court or in prison, compared with the rest of the population.
