How does vodka affect the body

And the more you drink, the greater the damage will become. Drinking can damage the tissues in your digestive tract and prevent your intestines from digesting food and absorbing nutrients and vitamins. As a result, malnutrition may occur. And they may cause dangerous internal bleeding. Ulcers can be fatal if not diagnosed and treated early.

People who consume too much alcohol may also be at risk for cancer. People who drink frequently are more likely to develop cancer in the mouth , throat , esophagus , colon , or liver. People who regularly drink and use tobacco together have an even greater cancer risk.

Alcohol can affect your heart and lungs. People who are chronic drinkers of alcohol have a higher risk of heart-related issues than people who do not drink. Women who drink are more likely to develop heart disease than men who drink. Difficulty absorbing vitamins and minerals from food can cause anemia. This is a condition where you have a low red blood cell count. One of the biggest symptoms of anemia is fatigue.

You may think drinking alcohol can lower your inhibitions and help you have more fun in bed. But the reality is quite different. Men who drink too much are more likely to experience erectile dysfunction. Heavy drinking can also prevent sex hormone production and lower your libido.

Women who drink too much may stop menstruating. That puts them at a greater risk for infertility. Women who drink heavily during pregnancy have a higher risk of premature delivery , miscarriage , or stillbirth. Women who drink alcohol while pregnant put their unborn child at risk.

Fetal alcohol syndrome disorders FASD is a serious concern. Other conditions include:. Long-term alcohol use may prevent your body from keeping your bones strong.

This habit may cause thinner bones and increase your risk for fractures if you fall. Cancer: According to the National Cancer Institute: "There is a strong scientific consensus that alcohol drinking can cause several types of cancer.

Even those who have no more than one drink per day and people who binge drink those who consume 4 or more drinks for women and 5 or more drinks for men in one sitting have a modestly increased risk of some cancers. Based on data from , an estimated 3. Clear patterns have emerged between alcohol consumption and increased risks of certain types of cancer:.

For more information about alcohol and cancer, please visit the National Cancer Institute's webpage " Alcohol and Cancer Risk " last accessed October 21, Unlike beer or wine, a shot of vodka can actually reduce blood sugar levels. This is most effective when taken straight, so order it neat or on the rocks. The Scene. Type keyword s to search. So the next time you're debating what kind of cocktail to order, consider this: 1. Vodka is a cure-all. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses.

Oxidative metabolism prevents this. So, if you drink that much or more on most days of the week, you probably have fatty liver. Continued alcohol use leads to liver fibrosis and, finally, cirrhosis. The good news? Fatty liver is usually completely reversible in about four to six weeks if you completely abstain from drinking alcohol. Cirrhosis, on the other hand, is irreversible and likely to lead to liver failure despite abstinence from alcohol, according to Dr.