Drinking alcohol frequently harms these two organs! It is healthier to not drink at all

We are used to expressing our feelings and having fun with alcohol, but drinking all the time may "marinate" and destroy your organs, and cause diseases under the constant stimulation of alcohol!

Drinking frequently is most harmful to these two organs!

A study published in the September 2023 issue of the Journal of the American Heart Association found that heavy drinking and binge drinking are associated with ectopic fat accumulation, with the strongest associations with pericardial and liver fat accumulation, followed by intermuscular, visceral, and subcutaneous fat accumulation. The analysis showed:

▼ Light (<1 drink per day) and moderate (1-2 drinks per day) drinkers have the lowest risk of ectopic fat accumulation;

Heavy drinkers (>2 drinks per day) and binge drinkers (≥5 drinks on one occasion in the past month) were at significantly increased risk of ectopic fat accumulation.

Compared with lifelong abstainers, heavy drinkers have significantly higher pericardial fat, liver fat, visceral fat, and intermuscular fat, but lower subcutaneous fat. ① Excessive visceral fat can cause obesity and a variety of diseases.

What diseases will people who drink every day get?

1. Causes alcoholic cardiomyopathy

Han Xiaoning, deputy chief physician of the Department of Cardiology at Peking University First Hospital, published an article in Health Times in 2016 stating that excessive intake of alcohol, whether wine, liquor or beer, may lead to alcoholic cardiomyopathy, which is manifested by enlarged ventricular volume, myocardial hypertrophy and enlarged heart.

2. Lead to cirrhosis and liver cancer

Wang Bingyuan, chief physician of the Department of Gastroenterology at the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, published an article in Health Times in 2017 stating that long-term heavy drinking can lead to alcoholic liver disease, which usually manifests as fatty liver in the early stages, and can then develop into alcoholic hepatitis, liver fibrosis and cirrhosis, and further develop into liver cancer. Severe alcoholism can induce extensive liver cell necrosis and even liver failure.

3. Causes brain shrinkage

A study published in Nature Communications in March 2022 showed that even small amounts of alcohol are associated with a reduction in brain volume. The more you drink, the more significant the change in brain volume. And while drinking shrinks the brain, it also accelerates its aging.

4. Damage to gastric mucosa

Chen Yingxuan, chief physician of the Department of Gastroenterology at Renji Hospital affiliated to Shanghai Jiaotong University School of Medicine, published an article in Health Times in 2020 stating that alcohol can cause significant damage to the gastric mucosa and recommends drinking less or no strong alcohol. ⑤

5. Increased risk of atherosclerosis

The 2019 "Chinese Expert Consensus on the Management of Elevated Triglycerides in Patients with Atherosclerosis" points out that drinking alcohol, whether it is a big bowl of wine or a small drink for pleasure, will increase triglyceride levels. Elevated triglyceride levels increase the risk of atherosclerosis. ⑥

6. Causes pancreatitis

Wu Yongdong, chief physician of the Department of Gastroenterology at Beijing Friendship Hospital, published an article in Health Times in 2013 stating that drinking a lot of alcohol can stimulate the secretion of pancreatic juice and induce acute severe pancreatitis. This disease is completely caused by eating. For example, alcoholism, overeating, and obesity are all prone to pancreatitis.

7. Increased Risk of Esophageal Cancer

Li Hui, chief physician of the Department of Thoracic Surgery at Beijing Chaoyang Hospital, published an article in Health Times in 2017 stating that drinking is currently one of the more clear factors that lead to esophageal cancer, so drinking should be moderate.⑧

8. Cause tonsil disease

Qin Jianwu, chief physician of the Department of Head and Neck Surgery at Henan Cancer Hospital, published an article in Health Times in 2012 stating that limiting alcohol consumption is an important way to protect the throat. Alcohol can irritate the throat and may cause tonsil diseases, laryngeal cancer, etc.

9. Affects Bone Health

Geng Shuo, deputy chief physician of the Department of Orthopedics at the First Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, published an article in Health Times in 2019 stating that alcohol can cause the loss of minerals such as calcium and magnesium in bones, thus making bones brittle.

If there are 4 situations, it’s really time to quit drinking!

Long-term drinking will definitely bring many health problems to the body! But many people can't control themselves from drinking. However, Zhi Jiehua, deputy chief physician of the Department of Gastroenterology at the First People's Hospital of Yangzhou City, Jiangsu Province, published an article in the People's Daily Health Account in July 2023 stating that pain in these four parts of the body may be a "warning signal" for quitting drinking.

Signal 1: Liver pain

As a metabolic organ, the liver is most susceptible to stimulation and damage from alcohol. Long-term and heavy drinking can lead to symptoms such as liver pain, discomfort in the liver area, and abnormal liver function. Distending pain, dull pain, or persistent dull pain are common manifestations of liver pain.

Signal 2: Stomach pain

Alcohol has an irritating effect on the gastric mucosa, which can increase gastric acid secretion and cause gastritis and gastric ulcers. Stomach pain usually manifests as upper abdominal pain, heartburn, nausea and vomiting.

Signal 3: Heart pain

Excessive alcohol intake may not only cause liver damage, but also have adverse effects on the heart. People who drink alcohol for a long time may experience symptoms of heart pain, which is mainly related to the toxic effect of alcohol on the heart, leading to arrhythmia, myocardial ischemia and other problems. Heart pain usually manifests as sternal cramps, stabbing pain, chest tightness and shortness of breath.

Signal 4: Muscle and joint pain

Alcohol causes water loss in the body, leading to dehydration, which in turn puts a greater strain on muscles and joints. Problems such as muscle pain, arthritis and gout are common in alcoholics, with symptoms such as muscle soreness, joint swelling and pain.

Finally, try not to drink alcohol or drink less. The safe dose of alcohol is 0, which means that it is healthier not to drink alcohol at all.

This article is compiled from:

① Association Between Alcohol Consumption and Ectopic Fat in the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis. J Am Heart Assoc, 8 Sep 2023

2023-09-13 China Circulation Magazine "Drinking a lot will cause visceral fat to accumulate! American research"

② 2016-08-26 Health Times "First time hearing about beer heart"

③ 2017-03-24 Health Times: High incidence of liver cancer is caused by drinking

④ Daviet, R., Aydogan, G., Jagannathan, K. et al. Associations between alcohol consumption and gray and white matter volumes in the UK Biobank. Nat Commun 13, 1175 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-022-28735-5

⑤ 2020-06-30 Health Times "Blocking from Gastritis to Gastric Cancer"

⑥Xie Xiang. Chinese expert consensus on the management of elevated triglycerides in patients with atherosclerosis[J]. Chinese General Practice, 2019.

⑦ 2013-08-01 Health Times "Drink less alcohol to protect the pancreas from "dissolving""

⑧ 2017-06-30 Health Times "Questions and Answers on Esophageal Cancer Prevention and Treatment"

⑨ 2012-06-04 Health Times "The throat is afraid of alcohol and cigarettes"

⑩ 2019-05-10 Health Times "Bones are most afraid of "smoke and alcohol""

⑪ 2023-07-22 People's Daily Health Account "Gastroenterology Doctor" "If a drinker has pain in 4 places, it's time to quit drinking"