More than 500 energy drink products are on the market in the U.S., with annual sales topping $25 billion, and projected to exceed $50 billion by 2033. The number of units in a drink is based on the size of the drink and its alcohol strength. An overdose of caffeine may cause rapid or irregular heartbeat and breathing issues.

how does alcohol affect the brain and body

The risks of drinking too much

Polydrug use is a term for the use of more than one drug or type of drug at the same time or one after another. Polydrug use can involve both illicit drugs and legal substances, such as alcohol and medications. Refined carbohydrates may also affect the gut-brain axis and cause inflammation in the body, including the brain. These effects have been shown to affect your ability to think and increase the risk of anxiety and depression. Using drugs may increase the risk of experiencing mental health issues for people with a history or family history of these conditions.

Medications

But if you quit, your brain seems to be able to regain some of these What happens to the body when you stop drinking alcohol abilities. Even just one bout of drinking too much may weaken your body’s germ-fighting power for up to 24 hours. Over time, large amounts of alcohol blunt your immune system and your body’s ability to repair itself. In this video, consultant hepatologist Mark Wright explains liver disease and how not drinking alcohol can help. A liver transplant may be required in severe cases where the liver has stopped functioning and does not improve when you stop drinking alcohol.

how does alcohol affect the brain and body

Congenital heart disease: ‘The surgery went well. I’ve done very well as a child into adulthood’

Most of Substance abuse the drinks also contain lots of sugar, which along with the caffeine can lead to a rush of energy and then a crash (just like the sugar in a candy bar). Even sugar-free or ‘natural’ energy drinks often contain high doses of caffeine and can pose similar health risks. You might think that a regular glass of red wine or other alcoholic beverages might be good for your heart. But that may not be true, or true only for light sippers (less than one drink a day).

  • They offer information about alcohol and managing your drinking.
  • Physical problems can happen at lower levels of alcohol use in older adults.
  • Chronic use disrupts nutrient absorption by interfering with enzymes released by the pancreas.
  • ARLD does not usually cause any symptoms until the liver has been severely damaged.

You’re not alone

Within hours of drinking, alcohol stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, which controls heart rate and blood pressure responses. This stimulation causes your heart to beat faster and your blood vessels to constrict, creating an immediate spike in blood pressure readings. Long-term alcohol use weakens the heart muscle in a condition called cardiomyopathy. This reduces its ability to pump blood efficiently and increases risks of irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, and stroke. Even moderate drinking can alter sleep patterns by reducing REM sleep quality. Poor sleep further damages cognitive function and mental health.

  • During the stress response, you breathe faster in an effort to quickly distribute oxygen-rich blood to your body.
  • There’s no magic formula in energy drinks; it’s mostly old-fashioned caffeine that provides the jolt.
  • During the intervention, these people gather together to have a direct, heart-to-heart conversation with the person about the consequences of addiction.
  • This approach emphasizes fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean proteins, and low-fat dairy while limiting sodium, processed foods, and added sugars.

how does alcohol affect the brain and body

Anything from everyday responsibilities like work and family to serious life events such as a new diagnosis, war, or the death of a loved one can trigger stress. Over time, consistently good sleep can strengthen your immune system, improve emotional resilience, and support long-term well-being. People who are psychologically dependent may feel an urge to use them when in specific surroundings or socialising with friends. With physical dependence, a person’s body adapts to the depressants and gets used to functioning with them.