What Happens to Your Body When you Drink Alcohol?

Photo by Isabella Mendes from Pexels

Due to the sensitive nature of this story, student sources have been credited anonymously.

Roughly 3 out of 4 University of Maryland students will drink alcohol at some point during their college careers, according to the University Health Center. With that being said, roughly 75% will also deal with the excruciating effects of the dreaded post-partying hangover. With symptoms ranging from fatigue to nausea to vomiting and even diarrhea, a hangover manages to be just about anything but pleasant.

Some choose to bounce back by beginning to drink again, while others decide to take a more laid-back approach to cure their hangovers - not getting out of bed unless absolutely necessary.

“After a night of drinking, I’ll typically stay in bed until around 2 p.m. or so just recovering,” said junior psychology major Ariel.

For those who have lived in on-campus dorms, most are probably aware of The Gold Code, the school’s attempt to instill healthy drinking habits in kids who are getting their first tastes of freedom. Unfortunately, The Gold Code, a set of principles meant to function as a safe-drinking initiative, were made into a campus-wide meme, meaning that “pregaming with protein” is more of a punchline now than anything else.

Though all students at the university had to endure the hours-long AlcoholEdu training prior to enrolling in classes, you could probably use a refresher about alcohol consumption. So, let’s dive into the good, the bad and the ugly.

The Good

Consumed in moderate amounts (roughly two glasses per day), alcohol does actually contain a host of health benefits. According to a study conducted by The School of Public Health at Harvard University, moderate amounts of alcohol decreased the risk of cardiovascular disease due to the fact that alcohol raises “good” cholesterol in the body.

Alcohol, specifically red wine, can help prevent the common cold as well. This is likely because of the antioxidant properties in wine, according to Spanish researchers who conducted a study published in the New York Times. So, perhaps we should all treat ourselves to a wine Wednesday every once in a while - strictly for our health, of course.

“Excessive drinking just isn’t fun anymore anyways,” said senior marketing major Marley Niesz. “Nobody wants to be that dude throwing up in someone’s backyard. I’d much rather have a low-key wine night with my friends.”

Alcohol can also lengthen your lifespan. A study conducted at the Catholic University of Campobasso concluded that consuming a couple of drinks per day could lengthen your life by up to 18%. Because this study mimicked the Mediterranean diet, which encourages red wine in moderation, as it was found to be the most beneficial alcoholic drink.

The Bad

Alcohol impacts multiple parts of the body. Though oft-mentioned, the effects of excessive drinking on the liver are actually very important to note, as they are the most prevalent and likely to occur. According to alcohol.org, alcohol inflames the liver, which can cause scarring, and eventually other complications like cirrhosis, or the degeneration of cells coupled with inflammation and thickening of tissues. These effects essentially mean the liver is not working at its full capacity. Impacts of alcohol on the liver also include alcoholic hepatitis, fatty liver disease and liver cancer.

Another downfall of excessive alcohol consumption are the effects it has on the brain. Alcohol physically shrinks the brain, impacting memory, learning abilities and mental health over time, according to alcohol.org. In addition, alcohol interferes with brain activity during sleep, meaning part of your hangover could be chalked up to sleep deprivation, according to Harvard Health Publishing of Harvard Medical School.

Alcohol intake lowers inhibitions too, meaning you are less in control of your behavior than when you are sober.

“Alcohol suppresses the most active neurons in the brain the most. Thus, the vigilant frontal cortex and the wary amygdala that sees danger at every corner get turned off and people feel safer and less in touch with reality,” said psychiatrist Dr. Herbert Gross.

Drinking can also worsen depression and other mental illnesses, such as bipolar disorder, according to Harvard Health Publishing. Because alcohol is a depressant, it can exacerbate underlying issues, which explains why some of your friends (or even yourself) might be described as “sad drunks.”

The Ugly

Along with all of the aforementioned health issues associated with high levels of alcohol consumption, alcohol also wreaks havoc on your appearance.

According to Medical Daily, there is an app called “Your Face as an Alcoholic” developed by the company Rehabs, which shows the effects of drinking on your face over five-year intervals. It’s worth taking a look at if information about the effects of alcohol consumption on health do not scare you into practicing safer drinking habits but potential wrinkles will.

All in all, drinking alcohol isn’t an inherently bad thing - there are important health and social benefits that the substance can provide, if it is consumed safely and responsibly. Cheers!