Physical Effects of Alcohol - Part 2

Alcohol interferes with the development of brain in a fetus when a pregnant woman consumes the alcohol. Infants with fetal alcohol syndrome may have brain cells fewer than the normal and may have small brains. It slows down the growth of the fetus and the baby will be abnormally smaller than the normal size. It also leads to the facial deformities of the baby with extra skin folds at the corners of his or her eyes. Other symptoms of fetal alcohol are the eye openings of the fetus will be small; the bridge of the nose set too low and the face will be small with unusually thin upper lip and the groove from nose to the upper lip may be faint or absent.

The central nervous system will get affected including the brain, spinal cord and the nerves beginning from it. Alcohol affects the central nervous system affecting the emotional and sensory function, judgment, memory and ability to learn. The senses such as smell and taste will get affected and the ability to withstand pain increases as the blood alcohol level increases.

Alcohol makes the red blood cells to cluster together and block the small blood vessels; the tissues will be devoid of oxygen which causes the death of the cell. The death of the cell left unrecognized in the brain and is the most serious condition which can gradually lead to the death of the person. On account of this condition pressure increases and leads to the breaking of the capillaries which create red eye in the morning or the red, blotchy skin on the drunkard’s face. The blood vessels of the stomach and esophagus also break leading to hemorrhage causing death of the person.

Alcohol abuse also affects the endocrine system which controls the secretion of various hormones. Alcohol leads to the underproduction of the hormones and this can increase the vulnerability to allergies and affect the sexual performance, especially of men. The physical effects of alcohol will vary from person to person according to their tolerance.

Feel free to explore more articles by going to our Alcoholism article directory.