Drinking alcohol can be associated to celebrations, may it be a promotion, graduation or a mere festivity of friendships. Be that as it may, reasons are not really necessary when drinking, and most people drink just for fun or to end a long day.

According to alcoholrehab.com it was reported that "5 million Filipinos drink on a fairly regular basis." Meanwhile, the 2018 Expanded National Nutrition Survey (ENNS) showed the total number of binge drinkers in the Philippines are more than half of the entire adult population.

How does alcohol affect the body?

These staggering numbers are worrying as there have been many studies that drinking too much alcohol has negative effects in our health. The following are the known effects of alcohol on the human body:

• Drinking alcohol halts your other bodily functions. Unlike other fats, proteins, and carbohydrates human bodies take extra effort to process alcohol, that's why it affects the liver whose function is to detoxify your body.

• Excess alcohol consumption leads to bacterial growth in the gut. The bacteria then go on to the intestinal wall, causing damages to the liver.

• Too much alcohol is also bad for the heart. It weakens the cardiac muscles, which are also known as cardiomyopathy. Arrhythmias or having irregular heartbeat patterns may also occur. High blood pressure is also a high possibility.

• Alcohol abuse may heighten the risk of some cancers like, for example, the cancer of the throat, esophagus, and liver. Another health effect would be the inflammation of the pancreas, also known as pancreatitis. Your immune system may be compromised if you drink alcohol daily.

• The effect of alcohol on the brain is something that can happen instantly. Temporary side effects include memory loss and coordination while long-term side effects are inevitable, which can last for months or years.

• Physical and emotional dependency on alcohol will happen to those who drink regularly. Detoxification is a complicated process and should be overseen accordingly by a professional. 

• The effects of alcohol on males and females are different. According to studies, men who drink excessively may experience erectile dysfunction while women may experience menstrual and pregnancy problems such as stillbirth and miscarriage.

Other Factors to Consider

Anything in excess is wrong for your body, and liquor can influence your bodily functions in different forms and ways.

Keep in mind also, that the effects of alcohol in your body rely upon the amount you drink, the frequency and manner of drinking. Your sexual orientation, body size and arrangement, age, drinking experience, hereditary qualities, dietary status, digestion, and social factors all have an influence.

The ideal approach to keep away from the impacts of liquor on your body may be to avoid it altogether. This is particularly important if you are attempting to get pregnant, or are pregnant or breastfeeding.

If you decide to continue your liquor intake, low-level drinking is preferable for your body over binge drinking that can harm your health.