Six ways alcohol affects your health!

Zee Media Bureau

New Delhi: Alcoholism affects all aspects of your life – health, relationships, finances and more. It's no secret that excessive alcohol use can lead to the development of chronic diseases and other serious problems including cirrhosis of the liver and a range of cancers.

Here are some conditions linked to chronic alcohol consumption:

• Drinking too much alcohol can lead to fatty liver, hepatitis and 'scarring' of the liver (cirrhosis).
• Heavy drinking can also cause digestive problems as it can result in inflammation of the stomach lining (gastritis), as well as stomach and esophageal ulcers.
• Excessive drinking leads to high blood pressure and increases your risk of certain heart diseases and stroke.
• Heavy drinking can cause erectile dysfunction in men, whereas in women, it can interrupt menstruation.
• Habitual drinking has been linked to an increased risk of many cancers including mouth, throat, liver, colon and breast cancer.
• Alcohol use during pregnancy may cause miscarriage as well give rise to a condition called fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). FAS is a condition in a child that results from alcohol exposure during the mother's pregnancy.