What are 6 long-term effects of alcohol?

Answer:
There are many long term effects of alcohol. One effect it has on your body is how it affects the nervous system. Results of autopsies have shown that patients with a history of chronic alcohol abuse have smaller, shrunken brains than nonalcoholic adults of the same age and gender do not show trait of. CT scans consistently show a connection between heavy drinking and physical brain damage. A second long term an effect is memory lapses. Again alcohol has a major effect on the brain. It can affect your ability to concentrate and make smart decisions, also increasing a risk of developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease. A third effect is liver dysfunction. Liver cirrhosis is an example of this, leading to a serious and potentially fatal brain disorder known as hepatic encephalopathy. Hepatic encephalopathy can cause changes in "sleep patterns, mood, and personality; psychiatric conditions such as anxiety and depression; severe cognitive effects such as shortened attention span; and problems with coordination." In the most serious cases, patients may slip into a coma, which can be fatal. A fourth effect which is long term is acute pancreatitis which can lead to diabetes which can lead to lack of oxygen in your blood meaning you could have to get a body part (lacking blood flow) amputated. The fifth effect of alcohol is damage done to your heart. This involves heart failure, heart attack, hypertension, cardiomyopathy or hypertriglyceridemia. Lastly a sixth effect of long term alcohol use is alcoholic hepatitis or cirrhosis. These symptoms include Nausea and vomiting, abdominal pain and tenderness, jaundice, ascites, and mental confusion.
First answer by Kaylalanham. Last edit by Kaylalanham. Contributor trust: 1 [recommend contributor recommended]. Question popularity: 36 [recommend question].