Waking up the morning after you’ve had too much alcohol never feels good. From nasty headaches to a racing heart, the telltale hangover symptoms are your body’s way of letting you know you’ve exceeded your limits. But beyond these outward effects of excessive alcohol use, what happens to your body if you drink too much? Here’s a closer look.
Is Drinking Too Much Bad for Your Health?
Excessive alcohol use impacts your health both immediately and in the long term. At first, the fast-acting effects of a couple of drinks might have you feeling relaxed, drowsy, or even giddy. However, too much alcohol comes with the risk of subsequent head pain, gastrointestinal issues, and loss of coordination. There are also negative mental implications, including difficulty making decisions, lowered inhibitions, impulsive behavior, and even blackouts — circumstances that could come with consequences far more severe than any hangover.
Over a long-term basis, alcohol use leads to several poor health outcomes, including:
- Sleep difficulties
- Mood changes
- Immune system impairment
- Changes in sex drive and performance
- Weight changes
- Problems with concentration and memory
All of these issues result from the widespread effects alcohol has on your body’s various systems. Chronic drinking can even damage your circulatory system, increasing your risk for high blood pressure, stroke, heart attack, and other cardiovascular conditions. Further, alcohol consumption has been directly linked to several types of cancer, including head and neck, esophageal, liver, breast, and colorectal cancers.
How Much Drinking Is Too Much?
Although it was once believed that having alcohol in moderation could lead to health benefits, we’ve recently learned that consuming any amount isn’t considered safe. In 2023, the World Health Organization (WHO) declared alcohol a Group 1 carcinogen, placing it in the highest risk category alongside tobacco and asbestos.
To clarify their decision, WHO explained that the data we currently have doesn’t determine a specific threshold at which the cancer-causing effects of alcohol begin. And while there may be some small benefits to moderate drinking, the data we do have indicates the risks outweigh these potential payoffs. As you might imagine, the more you drink, the higher the health risks become.
Of course, it’s impractical to assume that everyone abstains from alcohol altogether. If occasional alcohol consumption is part of your lifestyle, here are some simple guidelines.
- The Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends no more than one drink per day for women, or two drinks per day for men, so try not to exceed these amounts. Examples of one drink include 12 ounces of beer, eight ounces of malt liquor, and five ounces of wine.
- Binge drinking is defined as four or more drinks on one occasion for women, or five or more for men. Heavy drinking would be considered eight or more drinks for women per week, and 15 or more for men weekly. If you’re approaching or exceeding these levels, it’s likely time to evaluate your relationship with alcohol and seek assistance to quit drinking, if needed.
- If you choose to drink on occasion, keep potential health risks to a minimum by setting limits for yourself. Should alcohol use begin to interfere with your obligations or relationships, don’t hesitate to reach out to your provider for guidance.
Schedule a Cardiopulmonary Service With Morgan Medical Center
Alcohol use is just one of the many factors that can affect heart and lung health. Fortunately, our team at Morgan Medical Center offers a range of cardiopulmonary services to support your wellness, no matter your unique lifestyle factors. To request an appointment, submit an online form.