CENTER OF ALCOHOL STUDIES FACTS ON: MEDICAL CONSEQUENCES OF ALCOHOL

Alcohol affects virtually every organ system in the body. Acute and chronic intoxication have their unique consequences on physiology, affecting both the quality of life and longevity. The number of biological systems affected by alcohol is staggering, both in the scope of medical consequences, and in terms of the economics of medical treatment of alcohol-related disorders. Despite these undesirable effects, not all of the medical consequences of alcohol use are deleterious. The most significant and well-known medical consequences of alcohol use and abuse are presented in this overview. ALCOHOL AND ACCIDENTAL INJURIES Accidental injuries produce obvious direct medical consequences. Alcohol increases the risk for such injuries through the impairment of cognitive (mental) and psychomotor (coordinating movement with mental tasks) functioning, while performing or engaging in a variety of behaviors such as driving a car, riding a motorcycle or bicycle, operating a boat, swimming, and pedestrian activity. Alcohol increases reaction time, impairs sensory processing, motor control, attention, and the use of seat-belt devices. In young men, especially, increased risk-taking and impulsivity also occur. All of these factors significantly increase the risk for a serious or fatal injury. Drunken driving accidents alone kill about 16,000 people per year, with many more times that amount injured. Alcohol also increases the risk for injury or death due to suicide and fire