Australians are known to love the occasional (or nightly) alcoholic drink. But unfortunately many who drink do so in excess without even realizing it or being aware of the associated risks involved. Here’s what happens to your body when you sink a few more than you should…

 

Your Brain.

Alcohol alters levels of neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers that control your mood, perception, and behaviour. It also impairs your cerebral cortex, which is responsible for thinking, memory, and learning.

Your Skin

Alcohol dilates blood vessels making them more prone to breakage. This gives you bloodshot eyes and worsens a red-skinned condition called rosacea. Your heart pumps more fluid into surrounding tissues to balance out those alcohol widened arteries and veins, leaving you with a bloated, puffy face.

Your Muscles

Alcohol tinkers with your hormonal and inflammatory responses to exercise, making it more difficult for your body to repair damaged proteins and build new ones. You’ll compound this effect if you reach for a beer before having a recovery snack or protein shake.

Your Heart

Two drinks per day can raise your risk of atrial fibrillation by 17%. This type of irregular heartbeat approximately quadruples your risk of having a stroke and triples your risk of heart failure.

Your Stomach

Excessive consumption increases what’s called your gut permeability. Harmful toxins and bacteria leak from your digestive system into your bloodstream, prompting a dangerous immune-system response that can eventually lead to liver disease and other health problems. At lower doses, alcohol irritates your stomach, increases acidity, and relaxes the muscle at the end of your oesophagus, causing heartburn