Alcohol has many negative effects on those who participate in athletic activities. The NCAA warns “Excessive alcohol can lead to loss in balance and coordination, reduced reaction time, and increased appetite. The decline in cognitive function can lead to an increase in sports-related injuries” (SCAN Registered Dietitians, 2013). This only scratches the surface of negative effects. Drinking alcohol prior to an athletic event often leads to dehydration which causes problems such as “increased core temperature, rapid heart rate, nausea/vomiting, and a general feeling of fatigue” (SCAN Registered Dietitians, 2013). All of these side effects not only significantly decrease athletic performance, but they also have a harsh effect on the body in …show more content…
Research studies done by the National Cancer Institute concluded “Based on data from 2009, an estimated 3.5 percent of all cancer deaths in the United States (about 19,500 deaths) were alcohol related” (National Cancer Institute, 2013). It was also reported that “Clear patterns have emerged between alcohol consumption and the development of head and neck cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, breast cancer, and colorectal cancer” (National Cancer Institute, 2013). It is plain to see that alcohol consumption directly increases risks for specific types of cancer. There are many reasons why alcohol and cancer are related. One of the major ways alcohol can cause cancer is through damage to body tissues. The American Cancer Society states “Alcohol can act as an irritant, especially in the mouth and throat. Cells that are damaged may try to repair themselves, which could lead to DNA changes in the cells that can be a step toward cancer” (American Cancer Society, 2017). Alcohol can also “damage the liver, leading to inflammation and scarring. As liver cells try to repair the damage, they can end up with mistakes in their DNA, which could lead to cancer” (American Cancer Society, 2017). Besides potentially changing the DNA of body tissue, alcohol can create cancer-friendly environments in other ways. For example, “Alcohol can raise body levels of estrogen, a hormone important in the growth and development of breast tissue” (American Cancer Society,
In my view I agree with Sandee LaMotte because alcohol does have many types of effects including gaining calories, getting heart disease and cancer, diabetes, loss of memory, and the type of mood your in. More specifically, alcohol can damage your body really horribly. For example, “Alcohol weakens our immune systems, making
It can cause cancer, peptic ulcers, cardiomyopathy, and liver cirrhosis. Not only that, but people who chronically drink alcohol may get deficiencies in thiamin (vitamin B1), and this can lead to Korsakoff 's syndrome. Alcohol is also extremely addictive. And it is the main reason why drunk driving exists. That’s why organizations such as MADD exists today because they are trying to prevent more innocent lives being taken away because a person was driving under the influence.
In an article published by WebMD, written by Jurgen Rehm, PhD, and chairman of the University of Toronto’s department of addiction policy states “Habitual drinking increases the risk of cancer.”
Alcohol is a depressant that affects every part of your body because once it’s consumed, twenty percent is absorbed in the stomach and eighty percent is absorbed in the small intestine. Excessive use of alcohol could cause other health problems such as, arthritis, cancer, heart disease, hyperglycemia, hypoglycemia, kidney disease, liver disease, nervous disorders, obesity and psychological disturbances. Alcohol related liver disease is a major cause of death in the United States.
One chemical agent that results in cancer is ethanol, or alcohol. Alcohol is one of the most prevalent drug choices nationwide. The effects of alcohol differ with each individual person. It depends on age, gender, percent body fat, and the rate of metabolism (). A few of the cancers that alcohol can cause include oral, colorectal, breast, and liver.
Although the student athletes drink to become less stressful, there are many negative consequences. Some of the negative consequences include different physical illnesses or injuries, a greater chance of drinking and driving (or riding with an intoxicated driver), increased the chance of risky sexual behaviors, a greater amount of sensations to seek reckless behavior, and a decreased amount of academic success.
Statistically alcohol has caused a wealth of misfortune and death across the United States just among college students. “According to the Core Institute, an organization that surveys college drinking practices, 300,000 of today’s college students will eventually die of alcohol-related causes such as drunk driving accidents, cirrhosis of the liver, various cancers, and heart disease”. In addition “drinking and driving has been reported by 60% of college men and 50% of college women who are binge drinkers”. Also
Many studies have been done that support the link between drinking alcohol and breast cancer risk. Alcohol is very bad for your body; it causes blood
Alcohol abuse can also cause short-term effects to the body. Although there are many different short-term effects, the most common happens to be a hangover which is a “group of symptoms experienced by a person after a heavy consumption of alcohol” (Alcoholic 1). Symptoms of a hangover often consist of nausea, fatigue, thirst, headache, diarrhea, and sensitivity to light and noise. The severity of a hangover depends on several factors; these factors include the amount of alcohol consumed, the level of hydration in the body at the time of alcohol consumption, and disease. Although hangovers are the most common short-term effect, blackouts are also a short-term result of alcohol abuse. Consuming large amounts of alcohol can lead to temporary amnesia where the person is unable to recall events that occurred after he or she began drinking. Unfortunately, blackouts can lead to serious repercussions, especially if the person is engaged in sexual activity during that time. Blackouts are much more common among social drinkers than previously assumed and should be viewed as a potential consequence of acute intoxication regardless of age (National 1). Drinkers who experience blackouts typically drink too much and too quickly, which causes their blood alcohol levels to rise very rapidly. Typically, college students are at risk for experiencing a blackout, as an alarming number of college students engage in binge drinking. Even though these short-term effects do not seem as bad as the
The Australian Guideline to Healthy Eating, states that small amounts of alcohol can be associated with increasing the risk of some cancers . Alcohol is a drink that is responsible for 4% and 25% of the disease problem related to specific cancers worldwide . The breast cancer organisation states that experts have estimated 10% of each additional drink woman regularly have a day raises the risk of breast cancer . Chief Medical Advisor, Professor Paul Wallace stated that, the increase risk could be from alcohols break down into substances called acetaldehyde . This substance causes genetic modifications in the DNA sequence that makes up genes and is a way in which the body will lead to the development of cancerous
These effects happen immediately, and that is why athletes and sports enthusiasts do not drink alcohol before any competition.
An estimated 38 million adults drink too much causing damage to their health, sometimes without even knowing it. Additionally, alcohol accounts for 88,000 deaths a year and 1 out of 3 violent crimes involve alcohol in the United States (Hello doctor 6). One of the biggest issues with drinking is the fact that DUI’s are responsible for 39% of fatal car accidents. Also that according to the NCADD (National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence) up to 80% of DUI offenders will risk driving with a suspended licence. Drinking can also be detrimental to your health, in a study consisting of 320,000+ women those who drank more than moderately saw a 41% increase in their chances for breast cancer (Hello Doctor 6). Drinking more than the moderate standard can also cause cancer of the liver, colon, and even the esophagus. Alcohol is damaging to your liver mainly because your liver has to break down the parts which are toxic and damaging. Drinking more than the recommended amount can cause liver scarring, and in america there are thousands of people walking around unaware they have cirrhosis and won't know till it's too late. While drinking can have a lot of negative effects, by keeping to moderation and being responsible in making choices when alcohol is involved all of these negatives can be
In Jill Dombrauckas’s (2015) report, she discussed that the Pennsylvania DUI Association made a large amount of researches about alcohol’s effect on body systems. In one research, alcohol affects the central nervous system which means when the individual drink alcohol, the messages that are carried to and from the brain and the body’s muscles can be slowed delivery. For example, the incoming signals from the brain, like the painful sensory that will decrease the injury’s awareness. Also the signals from the brain to the muscles will lead the motor skills becoming insensitive.
According to the article, 23 Effects of Alcohol, "Excessive alcohol use can cause the pancreas to produce toxic substances that interfere with proper functioning. The resulting inflammation is called pancreatitis, a serious problem that can destroy the pancreas." In other words, your pancreas is what breaks down food in your stomach and regulates your insulin level. Pancreatitis can lead to pancreatic cancer, which is deadly. Therefore, if people drink alcohol, they could end up developing pancreatitis, which will most likely kill them. According to CDC.org,"Excessive alcohol use led to approximately 88,000 deaths and 2.5 million years of potential life loss each year in the United States from 2006-2010." This shows how drinking alcohol can greatly reduce your life expectancy. This is like someone telling you to not drink some poison, and you deciding to drink the poison because you think it would be
The abuse of alcohol over long periods of time may also cause diseases such as cirrhosis, acute alcohol hepatitis, and the most severe liver disease. Cirrhosis is a disease in which the liver becomes so scarred that the patient lacks sufficient healthy tissue to perform the organ?s functions. Once you?ve got it, you are stuck with it. (Gross, 6) The worst thing about these diseases is that you will not know you have them unless you are medically examined on a regular basis. Alcohol consumption is a large contributor to the development of several types of cancer- mostly dealing with the neck and brain. We know that cancer kills and therefore it is safe to say that in some cases, alcohol can be deadly. It is important to realize that alcoholism is a disease. A heavy drinker will experience the effects of withdrawal syndrome (which include hypertension, anxiety, disorientation, hallucinations, and seizures) if he decides to stop drinking. Being addicted to alcohol is similar to being addicted to any other drug in that once one starts using, it is tough to live without. It is also a ?gateway drug? just as marijuana and other sedatives. (Bennett, Woolf, 13-23)