How Does Alcohol Affect the Blood?

Here in the UK, alcohol is unfortunately a big part of our lives. We’ve adopted such a strong drinking culture, which has turned into the normalisation of binge drinking and alcohol misuse. While addiction rates are up, and while alcohol is consumed now more than ever, many users lack awareness of how alcohol affects the body and mind.

Excessive alcohol consumption, while on the surface may offer positive effects, under the surface, its presence can result in many complex conditions, some of which can become untreatable.

Looking specifically at alcohol and blood, alone there are many concerns about the suppression of the body’s natural ability to function. From the risk of developing Type 2 diabetes to a hypoglycaemia diagnosis, there are many negative implications of mixing alcohol with our blood, never mind the remaining elements of our body and brain.

Yet, as we’ve shared above, many users of alcohol lack an understanding of what happens to our bodies when consuming alcohol, and in turn, what happens through long-term alcohol abuse. If you’re unsure, here’s some insight by answering the commonly asked question ‘how does alcohol affect the blood?’.

While we’re aware that the drinking culture will remain, we at Cassiobury Court are here to increase awareness of the addictive and dangerous traits within alcohol, along with the risks of addiction, and rehabilitation capabilities. If you’re worried about how alcohol is impacting your life and health, we’re here for you.

The Effects of Alcohol Abuse on the Mind

As we’re so used to consuming alcohol, it’s likely that most users overlook the impacts that its presence has. Of course, many users consider the risk of a hangover, linked to excessive alcohol misuse.

Yet very rarely is awareness high around how alcohol affects the body and mind. This alone is a worry, as excessive levels of alcohol consumption can result in many life-long conditions, can materialise into an addiction, and can cause many negative side effects which can be hard to undo.

Alcohol abuse is a complex subject, diagnosis and illness to consider. From brain functionality to fertility, to cardiovascular functioning and immunity levels across common illnesses, the presence of alcohol on an excessive and long-term scale can amount to much more than a mere hangover.

Let’s break down the impacts of alcohol consumption by considering ‘how does alcohol affect the blood?’. Standing as one of the most vital areas of our bodies, our blood helps with functionality, regulation, stabilisation, immunity, nutrition and our ability to breath.

Here’s how the toxicity of alcohol can affect the blood, reducing its organic vital role in our internal system.

How Much Drinking Can Affect the Blood?

The recommended daily unit limit is 14 units of alcohol per week, spread across 3 days or more by the National Health Service (NHS) in the UK.

For reference, drinking 14 units of alcohol per week is the equivalent of:

 
Drinking above the recommended unit limit of alcohol is often referred to as ‘excessive drinking’. This is due to the detrimental impact that alcohol has on the blood and bodily functions, causing long-term health issues.

Effect of Alcohol on Blood Pressure

Excessively drinking can have a significant impact on blood pressure levels, causing them to rise beyond the recommended levels. When the body consumes alcohol, the body responds in various ways which affect how blood vessels behave and pass around the body:

• Hormonal changes – alcohol interferes with the regulation of key hormones which are responsible for hormonal control. Changes to hormonal regulations can increase fluid retention in the body and raise blood pressure.
• Cortisol release – increasing the release of cortisol, the stress hormone, in the body. The release of cortisol elevates blood pressure by constricting blood vessels, causing the heart to beat faster.
• Blood level function – affecting the lining of blood vessels (called endothelium), alcohol decreases their ability to produce nitric oxide and relax. This causes them to constrict instead and raise blood pressure.
• Sympathetic nervous system – the sympathetic nervous system is stimulated by alcohol, which causes all types of issues, affecting heart rate, narrowing of blood vessels and a rise in cortisol. Collectively, these issues cause a rise in blood pressure.

Alcohol’s Effects on Blood Glucose and Insulin Levels

Blood is a necessary part of the body, by supporting functionality through the above roles on a 24/7 basis. Looking deeper into our blood’s capabilities, it contains a form of sugar known as glucose, which is produced in the liver.

Glucose is utilised in the body for cell growth and in meeting the body’s day-to-day energy needs. It is converted and stored in our muscles in the form of glycogen so that the body has a backup source of energy should organic glucose levels deplete.

Also, when blood sugar levels rise, insulin is released from the pancreas, to bring blood sugar levels down to healthy measures, by transferring glucose into our cells, to be used as energy. This alone shows how important blood health and capacity are.

Now considering the effects of alcohol on the blood, studies have indicated how excessive alcohol consumption interrupts the body’s natural ability to regulate blood sugar levels.

For instance, if you drink an excessive amount of alcohol, and do not eat enough carbohydrates to accompany the alcohol you consume, your body will quickly deplete its sources of glycogen from the muscles.

This is down to the fact that alcohol prevents the liver from producing glucose, which will trigger the body to utilise stored glycogen. To compensate through this process, the body will secrete insulin, resulting in low, unhealthy blood sugar levels.

Again, returning to the question of ‘how does alcohol affect the blood?’, if alcohol is abused over a prolonged period, the organic capabilities of insulin, to lower high blood sugar levels alone will weaken, increasing the risk of developing type 2 diabetes.

Increased Risk of Diabetes

Diabetes is a common side effect of chronic pancreatitis, a disease synonymous with heavy drinkers, showcasing the dangerous link between alcohol and blood.

Also considering the dangerous link between alcohol and blood, binge drinking can prompt the pancreas to release insulin in dangerous quantities. In turn, excessive insulin levels will lower the body’s blood sugar levels to an unhealthy, dangerous status, posing the risk of developing a condition known as hypoglycaemia, carrying symptoms of sleepiness and dizziness.

Drinking on an empty stomach can increase the risk of such a condition, which is why diabetes sufferers are urged to eat while consuming alcohol, especially those with type 1 diabetes.

From suppressing the organic release of insulin and glucose to reducing the capacity of cell health, development and repair, to nutritional and hormonal concerns, alcohol can affect the blood in many different worrying ways.

This is exactly why greater awareness of ‘how does alcohol affect the blood, and in turn the body and brain?’ should be aimed for, as unknowingly, many users are weakening their health.