Alcohol risks
B
Alcohol is a depressant, which means that it slows down the brain. Alcohol also alters the brain’s chemistry and increases the risk of depression and anxiety. Drinking heavily over a long period of time can also have long-term effects on memory.
A womans body, in general, process alcohol at a slower rate than a mans. When they drink similar amounts, women tend to feel the effects far more, even compared to a man of the same weight. Alcohol can affect fertility, put women at greater risk of breast cancer and increase some side-effects of the menopause.
in women
RAIN
One in three adults in the UK has high blood pressure. Regularly drinking too much alcohol is one of the known contributing factors to developing the condition. Men who regularly consume more than eight units of alcohol a day are four times more likely to develop high blood pressure, while women who regularly consume more than six units of alcohol a day double their risk of developing the condition.
LOOD PRESSURE
H
EART
Long-term excessive drinking increases your risk of developing problems with your heart. The heart can sometimes have trouble coping with occasional heavy drinking sessions too. Drinking within the government’s daily unit guidelines is however unlikely to cause damage and some research has even shown that small amounts of alcohol may help to protect the heart.
B
REAST
There is evidence to suggest that alcohol increases the risk of developing breast cancer. Drinking alcohol does not mean you will get breast cancer, it means your risk of developing it will be increased. How much you drink over your lifetime is what increases the risk. Staying within the daily unit guidelines when you do drink could help to lessen these risks.
L
IVER
Regularly drinking over the government’s daily unit guidelines can increase your risk of developing liver disease and cause irreparable damage to this very important part of your body, often without the person knowing until it’s too late. Liver cancer is also one of the two cancers most directly linked with alcohol.
S
TOMACH
Alcohol irritates the stomach, so heavy drinking can cause sickness and nausea and sometimes diarrhoea. In the longer term, alcohol is associated with an increased risk of cancer of the stomach.
P
ANCREAS
Heavy drinking can cause pancreatitis, which is when your pancreas becomes inflamed and its cells are damaged. Around half of people with chronic pancreatitis develop diabetes.
B
OWELS
Alcohol is often linked with bowel conditions. It can trigger symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS ) and recent studies have shown that even small amounts of alcohol can increase the risk of bowel cancer.
R
EPRODUCTION
Alcohol can affect women’s reproductive systems, and damage fertility. Even small amounts can affect a woman’s menstrual cycle and reduce the chance of conceiving. Alcohol can reduce a man’s testosterone levels, leading to loss of libido. It can also damage the quality, structure and movement of sperm by stopping the liver from properly metabolising vitamin A, which is needed for sperm development.
B
LADDER
Because alcohol is a diuretic it acts on the kidneys to make you pee out much more than you take in, which is why when you drink alcohol you find yourself going to the toilet so much more than when you drink water or soft drinks. So what’s all that drinking actually doing to your bladder? Read our feature to find out.
Click on the different organs to see the effect of alcohol on the body.
Men who regularly drink above the daily unit guidelines risk a whole host of health issues – from low energy and sexual difficulties in the short term, to heart disease and cancer in the long term.
Alcohol risks
Alcohol is a depressant, which means that it slows down the brain. Alcohol also alters the brain’s chemistry and increases the risk of depression and anxiety.
in men
B
IVER
H
EART
Long-term excessive drinking increases your risk of developing problems with your heart. The heart can sometimes have trouble coping with occasional heavy drinking sessions too. Drinking within the government’s daily unit guidelines is however unlikely to cause damage and some research has even shown that small amounts of alcohol may help to protect the heartattack
L
Regularly drinking over the government’s daily unit guidelines can increase your risk of developing liver disease and cause irreparable damage to this very important part of your body, often without the person knowing until it’s too late. Liver cancer is also one of the two cancers most directly linked with a
Alcohol and the liver
P
Heavy drinking can cause pancreatitis, which is when your pancreas becomes inflamed and its cells are damaged. Around half of people with chronic pancreatitis develop diabetes.
ANCREAS
S
TOMACH
Alcohol irritates the stomach, so heavy drinking can cause sickness and nausea and sometimes diarrhoea. In the longer term, alcohol is associated with an increased risk of cancer of the stomach.
B
OWELS
Alcohol is often linked with bowel conditions. It can trigger symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS ) and recent studies have shown that even small amounts of alcohol can increase the risk of bowel cancer.
B
EPRODUCTION
Because alcohol is a diuretic it acts on the kidneys to make you pee out much more than you take in, which is why when you drink alcohol you find yourself going to the toilet so much more than when you drink water or soft drinks. So what’s all that drinking actually doing to your bladder? Read our feature to find out.
R
Alcohol can affect a womans reproductive system, and damage fertility. Even small amounts can affect a woman’s menstrual cycle and reduce the chance of conceiving. Alcohol can reduce a man’s testosterone levels, leading to loss of libido. It can also damage the quality, structure and movement of sperm by stopping the liver from properly metabolising vitamin A, which is needed for sperm development.
One in three adults in the UK has high blood pressure. Regularly drinking too much alcohol is one of the known contributing factors to developing the condition. Men who regularly consume more than eight units of alcohol a day are four times more likely to develop high blood pressure, while women who regularly consume more than six units of alcohol a day double their risk of developing the condition.
B
LOOD PRESSURE
LADDER
RAIN
Click on the different organs to highlight the effects of alcohol on the body.
Choose your genderMale
BAlcohol is a depressant, which means that it slows down the brain. Alcohol also alters the brain’s chemistry and increases the risk of depression and anxiety. Drinking heavily over a long period of time can also have long-term effects on memory.A womans body, in general, process alcohol at a slower rate than a mans. When they drink similar amounts, women tend to feel the effects far more, even compared to a man of the same weight. Alcohol can affect fertility, put women at greater risk of breast cancer and increase some side-effects of the menopause.in womenRAINOne in three adults in the UK has high blood pressure. Regularly drinking too much alcohol is one of the known contributing factors to developing the condition. Men who regularly consume more than eight units of alcohol a day are four times more likely to develop high blood pressure, while women who regularly consume more than six units of alcohol a day double their risk of developing the condition.LOOD PRESSUREHEARTLong-term excessive drinking increases your risk of developing problems with your heart. The heart can sometimes have trouble coping with occasional heavy drinking sessions too. Drinking within the government’s daily unit guidelines is however unlikely to cause damage and some research has even shown that small amounts of alcohol may help to protect the heart.BREASTThere is evidence to suggest that alcohol increases the risk of developing breast cancer. Drinking alcohol does not mean you will get breast cancer, it means your risk of developing it will be increased. How much you drink over your lifetime is what increases the risk. Staying within the daily unit guidelines when you do drink could help to lessen these risks.LIVERRegularly drinking over the government’s daily unit guidelines can increase your risk of developing liver disease and cause irreparable damage to this very important part of your body, often without the person knowing until it’s too late. Liver cancer is also one of the two cancers most directly linked with alcohol.STOMACHAlcohol irritates the stomach, so heavy drinking can cause sickness and nausea and sometimes diarrhoea. In the longer term, alcohol is associated with an increased risk of cancer of the stomach.PANCREASHeavy drinking can cause pancreatitis, which is when your pancreas becomes inflamed and its cells are damaged. Around half of people with chronic pancreatitis develop diabetes.BOWELSAlcohol is often linked with bowel conditions. It can trigger symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS ) and recent studies have shown that even small amounts of alcohol can increase the risk of bowel cancer.REPRODUCTIONAlcohol can affect women’s reproductive systems, and damage fertility. Even small amounts can affect a woman’s menstrual cycle and reduce the chance of conceiving. Alcohol can reduce a man’s testosterone levels, leading to loss of libido. It can also damage the quality, structure and movement of sperm by stopping the liver from properly metabolising vitamin A, which is needed for sperm development.BLADDERBecause alcohol is a diuretic it acts on the kidneys to make you pee out much more than you take in, which is why when you drink alcohol you find yourself going to the toilet so much more than when you drink water or soft drinks. So what’s all that drinking actually doing to your bladder? Read our feature to find out.Click on the different organs to see the effect of alcohol on the body.
RAlcohol can affect a womans reproductive system, and damage fertility. Even small amounts can affect a woman’s menstrual cycle and reduce the chance of conceiving. Alcohol can reduce a man’s testosterone levels, leading to loss of libido. It can also damage the quality, structure and movement of sperm by stopping the liver from properly metabolising vitamin A, which is needed for sperm development.One in three adults in the UK has high blood pressure. Regularly drinking too much alcohol is one of the known contributing factors to developing the condition. Men who regularly consume more than eight units of alcohol a day are four times more likely to develop high blood pressure, while women who regularly consume more than six units of alcohol a day double their risk of developing the condition.BLOOD PRESSURELADDERRAINClick on the different organs to highlight the effects of alcohol on the body.