Which organ is most often damaged by regularly drinking too much alcohol?

Which organ is most often damaged by regularly drinking too much alcohol Igcse?

Damage to the liver and brain. Alcohol damages the liver and, over time, this leads to cirrhosis .

Which organ is most often damaged by regularly drinking too much?

Share on Pinterest Excessive alcohol consumption can affect many of the body’s systems. Alcohol is mostly metabolized in the liver, which is why the liver is particularly at risk of damage. The body metabolizes alcohol into acetaldehyde, a substance that is both toxic and carcinogenic.

What are some negative effects of drinking alcohol?

Over time, excessive alcohol use can lead to the development of chronic diseases and other serious problems including:

• High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems. …
• Cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, liver, colon, and rectum.

Which organ is responsible for the breaking down of ethanol in the body?

Most of the ethanol in the body is broken down in the liver by an enzyme called alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), which transforms ethanol into a toxic compound called acetaldehyde (CH₃CHO), a known carcinogen.

Which organ does alcohol affect most?

Your liver breaks down almost all the alcohol you drink. In the process, it handles a lot of toxins. Over time, heavy drinking makes the organ fatty and lets thicker, fibrous tissue build up. That limits blood flow, so liver cells don’t get what they need to survive.

What are the first signs of liver damage from alcohol?

Generally, symptoms of alcoholic liver disease include abdominal pain and tenderness, dry mouth and increased thirst, fatigue, jaundice (which is yellowing of the skin), loss of appetite, and nausea. Your skin may look abnormally dark or light. Your feet or hands may look red.

What is heavy drinking?

What do you mean by heavy drinking? For men, heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming 15 drinks or more per week. For women, heavy drinking is typically defined as consuming 8 drinks or more per week.

What are the good effects of alcohol?

Moderate alcohol consumption may provide some health benefits, such as:

• Reducing your risk of developing and dying of heart disease.
• Possibly reducing your risk of ischemic stroke (when the arteries to your brain become narrowed or blocked, causing severely reduced blood flow)
• Possibly reducing your risk of diabetes.