How does alcohol-use affect people?

How does alcohol-use affect people?

You've heard the news. "Wine with dinner benefits heart." "A couple of shots a week and you'll live to 100." How about some FACTS?

While research suggests that small amounts of alcohol might have beneficial cardiovascular effects, researchers agree that heavier drinking can lead to health problems. In fact, 100,000 Americans die from alcohol-related causes each year. Short-term effects include memory loss, hangovers, and blackouts. Long-term problems associated with heavy drinking include stomach ailments, heart problems, cancer, brain damage, serious memory loss, and liver cirrhosis.

Question: Raise your hand if you've ever seen seomeone literally "blow-up"...their skin filled with fluid, eyes yellow, legs 3 times the noraml size. Quite a site. Hope it won't be a relative of yours...

Heavy drinkers also markedly increase their chances of dying from automobile accidents, homicide, and suicide. Although men are much more likely than women to develop alcoholism, women's health suffers more, even at lower levels of consumption.

Drinking problems negatively impact mental health. Alcohol abuse and alcoholism worsen existing conditions such as depression and induce new problems like loss of memory, depression, or anxiety. Not to mention loss of job, car, house and family...

Alcohol problems don't just hurt the drinker. According to NIAAA, more than half of Americans have at least one close relative with a drinking problem. Spouses and children of heavy drinkers are more likely to face family violence; children are more likely to suffer physical and sexual abuse and neglect and to develop psychological problems. Women who drink during pregnancy run a serious risk of damaging their fetuses. Relatives and friends can be killed or injured in alcohol-related accidents and assaults.

Sound like fun to you?

Well, it sure was to me. You see I'm allergic to booze.

I steal your girlfriend, your DVD player and then I break out...in handcuffs.

Thanks for reading and come back soon-No Preaching. Promise.

PB