What effect does alcohol have on the body?

Medical Liver disease   

• Liver inflammation and fat deposition. These may progress to liver failure. Cirrhosis (scarring)

Stomach and bowel diseases   

• Heartburn and indigestion due to an inflamed gullet (reflux) or stomach (gastritis).
• Diarrhoea. Inflammation of the pancreas (pancreatitis) leading to abdominal pain or inability to absorb food.
• Cancer of the liver, gullet, bowel.

Brain damage

• Memory loss and difficulty learning (dementia)
• Poor co-ordination and balance

Other neurological diseases   

• Damage to nerves, leading to numbness in the legs and difficulty walking

Heart & blood vessel diseases   

• Heart failure (leading to shortness of breath and ankle swelling)
• Palpitations
• High blood pressure (hypertension)

Sexual & reproductive disorders

• Damage to the testicles leading to impotence Damage to the unborn baby

Bone & joint disorders   

• Gout (painful swelling of the joints, most commonly the big toe)
• Osteoporosis - thinning of the bones which may lead to fractures (broken bones)

Accidents   

• Head injury
• Blood clots around the brain
• Broken bones (especially the ribs)
• Road accidents
• Accidents at work or home

Nutrition   

• Malnutrition
• Obesity

Source: http://www.thelivercentre.com.au 
Image: http://www.alcoolism.org

Read more:

Safe drinking level of alcohol  www.digestivediseases.com
Excessive alcohol consumption is a major
cause of physical ill-health