The structure of ethanol.Alcoholic beverages are divided into three general classes:beers, wines, and spirits. Beer has an alcohol content of about 3-8% and wine consists of approximately 7-18% alcohol concentration.Distinctive alcoholic beverages differ in terms of their aging process like beer that undergoes a process of short fermentation, lasts for about a week or so. On the contrary, wine, which involves a longer process of fermentation, has a long aging period, lasting many months or even years.
So if alcohol is a natural product, why do we need to be concerned about drinking it? It is because alcohol is a depressant, it slows the function of the central nervous system. Alcohol blocks some of the messages trying to get to the brain. This alters a person's perceptions, emotions, movement, vision, and hearing.
In very small amounts, alcohol can help a person feel more relaxed or less anxious. More alcohol causes greater changes in the brain, resulting in intoxication. People who have overused alcohol may stagger, lose their coordination, and slur their speech. They will probably be confused and disoriented. Depending on the person, intoxication can make someone very friendly and talkative or very aggressive and angry. Reaction times are slowed dramatically — which is why people are told not to drink and drive. People who are intoxicated may think they're moving properly when they're not. They may act totally out of character.When large amounts of alcohol are consumed in a short period of time, alcohol poisoning can result. Alcohol poisoning is exactly what it sounds like — the body has become poisoned by large amounts of alcohol. Violent vomiting is usually the first symptom of alcohol poisoning. Extreme sleepiness, unconsciousness, difficulty breathing, dangerously low blood sugar, seizures, and even death may result.
Alcoholic beverages can be addictive, and the state of addiction to alcohol is known as alcoholism. For a long period of consuming alcohol, it can affect the person in many different ways.
Brain damage: Binge drinking can cause blackouts, memory loss and anxiety. Long-term drinking can result in permanent brain damage, serious mental health problems and alcohol dependence or alcoholism.
Cancers: Drinking alcohol is the second biggest risk factor for cancers of the mouth and throat. People who develop cirrhosis of the liver (often caused by too much alcohol) can develop liver cancer.
Heart and circulation: Alcohol can cause high blood pressure (hypertension) increasing the risk of having a heart attack or stroke. It also weakens heart muscles, which can affect lungs, liver, brain and other body systems and can cause heart failure. Binge drinking and drinking heavily over longer periods can cause the heart to beat irregularly (arrhythmia) and has been linked to cases of sudden death.
Kidneys: Heavy drinking can increase your risk of developing high blood pressure – a leading cause of chronic kidney disease.
Weight gain: Alcohol is high in calories. Weight for weight, the alcohol in a drink contains almost as many calories as fat. The average bottle of wine contains 600 calories while four pints of average strength lager contains 640.
Mental health: People may think alcohol helps them to cope with difficult situations and emotions, to reduce stress or relieve anxiety, but alcohol is in fact associated with a range of mental health problems including depression, anxiety, risk-taking behaviour, personality disorders and schizophrenia.
These are all the bad effects of drinking alcohol.For the one who love to drink alcohol, please concern about your own health. Think before you drink!!!
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