The Liver: The liver is the filter through which all toxins, including alcohol, are processed in the human body. It also stores and releases sugars, produces antibodies to ward off disease, and manufactures heparin, an anticoagulant that keeps blood running smoothly throughout the body’s venous system. Prolonged exposure to alcohol can cause liver disorders such as:
Fatty Liver: decreased breakdown of fatty acids by the liver. This condition causes fats to “dump” into the bloodstream and worsen heart problems. Fatty liver is reversible if alcohol use is stopped.
Alcoholic Hepatitis: Inflammation of the liver which damages cells and disrupts metabolic function. This condition is usually reversible, but can become chronic or fatal.
Cirrhosis: Major destruction of liver cells and scarring of liver tissue which eventually leads to liver failure. This condition is irreversible and fatal.
The Reproductive System: Heavy alcohol use can lead to missed menstrual periods and diminished libido, as well as sterility in males. If a woman is pregnant and drinks heavily, she is at risk of miscarriage and may cause her baby to be born with a condition known as Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS). Characteristics of FAS include low birth weight, physical deformities, heart defects, joint and limb deformities, heart defects, and mental retardation.
