The long-term health risks of drinking alcohol

The short-term effects of drinking alcohol are usually obvious. However, if you regularly drink too much alcohol, you can be putting your long-term health at risk. There can be hidden harmful effects of drinking alcohol that may not become apparent until years later.

1. Drinking as little as three units of alcohol a day increases your risk of developing many types of cancer, including cancers of the mouth, throat, esophagus (the pipe that goes from your mouth to your stomach), liver, breast and bowel.
2. Regularly drinking too much alcohol damages your heart and increases your risk of developing heart disease and stroke.
3. Alcohol damages your liver. Your liver is the largest organ in your body and one of its many functions is to filter and clean your blood. It takes about one hour for your liver to break down one unit of alcohol. If you regularly drink too much alcohol, you are at risk of developing a range of alcoholic liver diseases including fatty liver disease, hepatitis and alcohol-induced cirrhosis (fibrosis or scarring of your liver). If you cut down or stop drinking in the early stages of liver disease, your liver may recover. However, continuing to drink when your liver is damaged can lead to complete liver failure.
4. Alcohol damages your pancreas. Your pancreas is an organ that lies behind your stomach and produces digestive enzymes which help to break down fatty food, as well as insulin, which helps control blood sugar. If you drink too much alcohol, it can lead to acute or chronic pancreatitis.
5. Regularly drinking more than the daily recommended amount is known to affect fertility in both men and women.
6. Regularly drinking more than the daily recommended amount is known to affect fertility in both men and women.
7. Regular heavy alcohol use can lead to nerve and brain damage, resulting in memory problems, dementia and damage to small nerve endings.

Produced by Natalie Heaton, Bupa Health Information Team, December 2012.