How Does Alcohol Affect Men's Health?

How does alcohol affect men’s health? – Know the details

Excessive use of alcohol affects Men’s health significantly. It’s a serious health issue as the research shows that as compare to women, men are at higher risk of drinking-related problems due to the greater tendency towards binge drinking. Alcohol affects men’s health in different ways. 

           According to the U.S CDC, binge drinking is excessive alcohol (4 to 5 drinks) in 2 hours. Binge drinking brings your blood alcohol level to the legal limit of 08 pretty easily, and men have a habit of doing it more than women. 

In the following ways, alcohol affects men’s health

Longer-term Alcohol Affect on Men’s health

Having a habit of regular drinking even more than CMO’s low-risk guidelines will have a more negative impact on your health. Male or female drinking this much will result in some severe health issues like:

  • Stroke
  • Heart disease
  • Liver damage
  • High blood pressure
  • Seven types of cancer
  • Gout (painful swelling in joints)
  • Pancreatitis (inflammation in pancreas)
  • Ulcer or irritation in the pancreas
  • Type 2 diabetes

Some of these health issues, like gout, are more general in men as compare to women. 

Alcohol can be the cause of your weight gain

We add more additional empty calories to the list we get from our food and drinks by drinking alcohol. Empty calories are the ones that have very low nutritional value. So taking extra empty calories from alcohol automatically leads to weight gain. 

           The calorie content differs in alcoholic drinks, but still, many of them have excess sugar. Generally, a pizza slice has the same amount of sugar as a glass of wine, and the ice cream sundae has the same as an oversized wine glass. 

Alcohol disrupts the fat amount used by our bodies for energy. We cannot store the alcohol we drink in our body, so its metabolism starts over fat burning and nutrient absorption. Due to which the beer belly comes out, that is the weight gain in the middle. The fat present in the middle is more harmful to the body as it is directly on the essential organs of our body, including the liver. 

Weight gain from drinking or alcohol affecting hormones can result in prominent weight gains around the chest, resulting in bigger breasts in men. The high amount of calories in alcoholic drinks increases the weight gain chances with every sip.

Here are some more ways in which alcohol is affecting your body. 

  • Hair loss
  • Bloodshot eyes
  • Bad breath
  • Dull and dry hair

Testosterone – Some important facts

Before getting into the effect of alcohol on testosterone, let’s look at the function of testosterone. 

The testosterone hormone is present in both men and women, but men have its higher concentration. This hormone plays an essential role in muscle and bone growth and also contributes to sex drive. Like any other hormone, the elevation or dampness in the levels of any hormone will have some emotional and physical impacts on the person. 

Does Alcohol reduce the testosterone amount in Men?

In short Yes, Alcohol reduces the amount of testosterone in men. In detail, it is complicated as heavier drinking for a more extended period will affect increasing the amount of testosterone. 

Here are some effects of low level of testosterone in men

  • A loss of lean muscle
  • Weight gain
  • Depression
  • Erectile dysfunction
  • Irritability
  • Weight gain
  • Body hair loss
  • Low energy
  • Decrease in sex drive

Here are some therapeutic options for men having decreased levels of testosterone. 

Keep yourself cool                                                                

Alcohol causes changes in mood and behavior. While heavier drinking, your one wrong move can leave you behind bars, or you may be injured. Alcohol causes an increase in your anger that means you have greater chances of getting in fights that you will avoid when you are sober. 

           If you are having a bad day, rough week, or maybe problems in your life, drinking is not a good idea. It’s observed that Alcohol increases the risk of suicide and depression in the person. 

Alcohol Poisoning

Alcohol poisoning is a severe health condition that occurs when you have drunk a lot of alcohol, but your body can’t break it down quickly. Heavy drinking is the general cause of alcohol poisoning. 

Here are some general symptoms of alcohol poisoning:

  • Passing out
  • Slower breathing
  • Vomiting
  • Reduced blood temperature

In general, the person has an excessive amount of alcohol pass out before he knows what happens. If you think your friend or loved one is having alcohol positioning, call the emergency services right away. 

           To prevent any complications from vomiting like choking, turn the person on the side. Never leave the person having symptoms of alcohol poisoning alone. 

Understand why blackouts happen

The quicker you are in getting help, the more likely you are in minimizing some severe fatal complications, like

  • Seizure
  • Brain damage
  • Low blood pressure
  • Cardiac arrest
  • Asphyxiation

End words by the writer

The rate that alcohol can affect your body’s functioning depends upon many factors. The critical point is moderation and safety. Avoid sudden extreme drinking and limit it to a few drinks in a week. If you are drinking at a bar or away from home, make sure to book your ride in advance. It’s never safe to drive while drunk, even if it’s a small account.  

FAQ’s

What is heavy drinking in the case of men?

For men, heavy drinking is generally the consumption of 15 drinks or more in a week. 

What happens to your body if you are drinking alcohol daily?

Daily alcohol use can result in scarring and fibrosis of the liver’s tissues. Besides, it can also result in the inflammation of the liver, also known as alcoholic hepatitis. The aggressive alcohol intake can end up in all these liver conditions that eventually lead to liver failure. 

Do alcoholism gets worse with time and age?

An alcoholic person will face more problems and health struggles with time. As a person ages, their body becomes more vulnerable to diseases, and alcoholism will make it worse.

LATEST POSTS