Effects of Alcohol on the Body
Alcohol, initially you may feel the euphoria. Hours later the euphoria gets replaced with depression and confusion. Alcohol gets quickly absorbed into the bloodstream and is rapidly carried throughout the body. It affects Brain and Nervous System of the body. Reaction time is affected, it slows down the Brain and Body functions. Alcohol effects may vary from a person to person and generally depend upon the quantity being consumed. Regular and excessive drinking may lead to severe and long term effects on the health of a person like High Blood Pressure, Anemia, Cancer, Dementia, Depression, Cardiovascular Diseases and Automobile accident.
Alcohol and Blood Pressure
Heavy and regular drinking of alcohol may raise the Blood Pressure to unhealthy levels. Daily consumption of four or more drinks may harm the Liver, Heart, Brain and even lead to death. Reducing the amount of alcohol consumption may reduce the levels of Blood Pressure in a person. However, the fall in Blood Pressure may vary upon age, current level of Blood Pressure and previous drinking history. If a Heavy drinker reduces alcohol consumption to moderate quantities, his Blood Pressure may reduce between 2 to 4 mm Hg.
Normal levels of Alcohol Consumption
If you already have High Blood Pressure avoiding alcohol is best for you. If avoiding is not possible then drinking alcohol in moderate levels is the best you can do. Generally, one or two drinks in a day is considered normal, anything more than this may harm your body. Below given are the normal levels of alcohol consumption.
One drink per day is normal for a Man above 65 years
Having two drinks a day is normal for a Man below 65 years
One drink a day is normal for a Woman of any age
One Drink is equal to following
Beer: 12 ounce or 355 milliliters
Wine: 5 ounce or 148 milliliters
Brandy: 1.5 ounce or 44 milliliters
Normal values of alcohol does not mean one can consume alcohol freely. Avoiding alcohol is the best you can do for your health.