iMagazine / April, 2013 9
There are many long term effects that alcohol has. Effects to the brain include: Addiction, loss of verbal skills, and major brain damage. Cardiovascular changes consist of: Damage to the heart system, an enlarged heart, and high blood pressure, which can cause heart attacks and strokes. Other effects on the body are: fatty liver, irritation on the digestive system, and chemicals form that destroy your pancreas. Pregnant women who drink a lot while pregnant can get FAS, or Fetal Alcohol Syndrome, which gives severe birth defects to babies. Sometimes when people drink too much, they have a blackout, in which they pass out and do not remember anything that had happened before. Alcohol is the major factor in four causes of accidental death - car accidents, falls, drowning, and house fires. Luckily, if someone you know is addicted to alcohol there are multiple places that can help addicted people, like AA, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Al-anon, that helps family and friends of the alcoholic.