If you are someone who drinks alcohol it's likely you've experienced first-hand at least some of its short-term health effects, be it a hangover or a bad night's sleep. It's the longer term health effects of alcohol that people often only experience once it's too late. But it really doesn't have to be like that.
From a disturbed night's sleep to alcohol poisoning, alcohol's effects on the body can have a varying impact on our lives.
Your body can only process one unit of alcohol an hour. Drink a lot in a short space of time and the amount of alcohol in the blood can stop the body from working properly.
Slow down your brain functions so you lose your sense of balance
Irritate the stomach which causes vomiting and it stops your gag reflex from working properly – you can choke on, or inhale, your own vomit into your lungs
Affect the nerves that control your breathing and heartbeat, it can stop both
Dehydrate you, which can cause permanent brain damage
Lower the body’s temperature, which can lead to hypothermia
Lower your blood sugar levels, so you could suffer seizures