Typically, people drink alcohol to help calm them, make them feel confident, feel satisfied, or happy. Granted, alcohol consumption is meant to be enjoyed in a responsible way; however, some people drink excessively and for too long. With this in mind, the amount of alcohol consumption can impair mobility and the ability to think clearly. Moreover, it induces slurred speech, alters behavior, fatigue, and can cause serious danger if mixed with medication. Despite the known risks of drinking and how it debilitates judgement, statistics reflect that many alcohol users consume in heavy drinking and binge drinking (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2004). This essay seeks to illustrate the many changes alcohol affects the mind
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Specifically, how much a person drinks, how often, the age a person starts drinking, gender, if there is a family history of alcoholism, and a person’s general health (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2004). To begin, alcohol is a depressant and will change the neurotransmitters, known as GABA, glutamate, and dopamine. As an illustration, GABA calms the brain, however, too much neurotransmitters will lead to high blood pressure, increased heart rate, delusions, and aggression. By increasing the dopamine levels, drinking alcohol deceives the brain into thinking that one may feel great, but actually it is changing the chemicals in the brain to heighten depressive feelings (DiSalvo, 2012). Consuming alcohol may also stimulate reward access to the brain which will cause more drinking. Consequently, this can advance to excessive and large quantities of alcohol use and be a source to alcohol poisoning, which can lead to a coma or death. Other complications of heavy alcohol use are blackouts, atrophy in various parts of the brain, dementia, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome , and neurological issues (Greenfield, 2007). Clearly, drinking alcohol in excess or large doses for a long period of time leads to dangerous complications of the central nervous …show more content…
“Nearly 20% of drinkers report problems with friends, family, work, or the police because of drinking. People who abuse alcohol have a higher risk for divorce, domestic violence, unemployment, and poverty” (Greenfield, 2007). In other words, drinking too much can affect personal relationships, unsafe sexual practices or reduced sexual performance, unwanted pregnancies, hangovers that can lead to poor work performance, financial issues, ridicule for passing out or vomiting, or losing friends due to embarrassing actions when intoxicated. There are also risk factors involved for those who are pregnant or trying to have a baby, a family history of alcohol abuse, liver or pancreatic disease, heart failure or a weak heart, taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, and if one has had a hemorrhagic stroke (Luo, 2017). For these reasons, talk to a physician about alcohol use if any of the above
Specifically, how much a person drinks, how often, the age a person starts drinking, gender, if there is a family history of alcoholism, and a person’s general health (National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, 2004). To begin, alcohol is a depressant and will change the neurotransmitters, known as GABA, glutamate, and dopamine. As an illustration, GABA calms the brain, however, too much neurotransmitters will lead to high blood pressure, increased heart rate, delusions, and aggression. By increasing the dopamine levels, drinking alcohol deceives the brain into thinking that one may feel great, but actually it is changing the chemicals in the brain to heighten depressive feelings (DiSalvo, 2012). Consuming alcohol may also stimulate reward access to the brain which will cause more drinking. Consequently, this can advance to excessive and large quantities of alcohol use and be a source to alcohol poisoning, which can lead to a coma or death. Other complications of heavy alcohol use are blackouts, atrophy in various parts of the brain, dementia, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome , and neurological issues (Greenfield, 2007). Clearly, drinking alcohol in excess or large doses for a long period of time leads to dangerous complications of the central nervous …show more content…
“Nearly 20% of drinkers report problems with friends, family, work, or the police because of drinking. People who abuse alcohol have a higher risk for divorce, domestic violence, unemployment, and poverty” (Greenfield, 2007). In other words, drinking too much can affect personal relationships, unsafe sexual practices or reduced sexual performance, unwanted pregnancies, hangovers that can lead to poor work performance, financial issues, ridicule for passing out or vomiting, or losing friends due to embarrassing actions when intoxicated. There are also risk factors involved for those who are pregnant or trying to have a baby, a family history of alcohol abuse, liver or pancreatic disease, heart failure or a weak heart, taking prescription or over-the-counter medications, and if one has had a hemorrhagic stroke (Luo, 2017). For these reasons, talk to a physician about alcohol use if any of the above