• Are there any permanent effects of light to moderate alcohol consumption on the brain?
    12 replies, posted
Title says it all. I always feel sort of paranoid when I drink that I'll be doing some form of permanent damage to my brain that it won't recover from even when I'm only having like 3 or 4, maybe 5 standard drinks, and even then only maybe once every week or two. Are my fears warranted? I've looked it up but most sources just say, "alcohol consumption during adolescence can result in the brain not developing correctly..." but it never states what DEGREE of alcohol consumption (I'm 18 by the way).
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If you drink sparingly, the benefits outweigh the risks. However, if you go drink shitloads of alcohol in a rather short time span, you'll destroy your liver, and eventually, your brain. If you don't die of Cirrhosis of the Liver, first.
Australian standards say 5-6 standard drinks twice a week, 2 days off and 3-4 average per day for the entire week. A half decent guide I guess. You should be ok as long as it's not every day, not binge drinking all the time and you don't do it for 15 years. There are effects to your brain but they only come in the long term really and while the short term is supposed to have some effects, most of those aren't noticeable. You should be fine, just don't do it all the time for the next decade. Also stop being so paranoid, you're supposed to be enjoying yourself.
I've tried that. Like I said, most of what I can find is just generalisations like 'effects of drinking causes...' (but doesn't state to what DEGREE). And if it doesn't generalise it ONLY gives information on binge drinking (which doesn't seem very handy: I'd like to know what happens even if you DON'T binge drink). [editline]18th December 2010[/editline] [url]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/Possible_long-term_effects_of_ethanol.svg[/url] See, this image here seems to indicate that there's nothing BUT pros from moderate-drinking, but I find that hard to believe.
Moderate to small drinking would be something like I said. It might do some damage to your brain in terms of faster degradation but for the most part, you won't notice it. A few standard drinks a few times a week will do little to no damage.
[QUOTE=sltungle;26772483]I've tried that. Like I said, most of what I can find is just generalisations like 'effects of drinking causes...' (but doesn't state to what DEGREE). And if it doesn't generalise it ONLY gives information on binge drinking (which doesn't seem very handy: I'd like to know what happens even if you DON'T binge drink). [editline]18th December 2010[/editline] [URL]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/34/Possible_long-term_effects_of_ethanol.svg[/URL] See, this image here seems to indicate that there's nothing BUT pros from moderate-drinking, but I find that hard to believe.[/QUOTE] How is it hard to believe? That graph is backed up with over decades of study of long term effects on alcohol. As I said before, the benefits of moderate amounts of alcohol instruction outweigh the risks greatly. [QUOTE=Devodiere;26772545]Moderate to small drinking would be something like I said. It might do some damage to your brain in terms of faster degradation but for the most part, you won't notice it. A few standard drinks a few times a week will do little to no damage.[/QUOTE] Hardly that, a few drinks now and then will cause no cerebral damage.
Yes but that graph suggests that there are NO negative effects to moderate drinking. NONE whatsoever. That just... doesn't seem right to me. Things that DO have negative effects on you must ALWAYS have negative effects on you, it's just, in small quantities, those negative effects aren't too noticeable (but they should still be there). Bah, probably shouldn't be too worried about it anyway. There's probably worse shit that I ingest without even knowing it on a daily basis that is probably just as bad for my brain.
[QUOTE=sltungle;26772596]Bah, probably shouldn't be too worried about it anyway.[/QUOTE] Listen to yourself here. Alcohol is only damaging in cases of alcohol dependence, where people drink excessive amounts regularly and often. Contrary to popular belief, brain cells do not die from consuming alcohol, instead the way that your brain communicates between cells is diminished, the effects of which are repaired hours after the alcohol has left your system. Similarly, only 8/10 people with alcohol dependence experience long-lasting damage to their livers. ([url]http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/factsheets/alcohol-and-your-liver[/url]) The really important part of drinking is just to know your limits, never drink on an empty stomach and keep hydrated to avoid a hangover. The most damaging thing drinking does to you is maybe make you do something stupid you wouldn't do sober.
OP you seem neurotic, drinking in non-excess is pretty much completely harmless.
[QUOTE=macacan;26772793]Listen to yourself here. Alcohol is only damaging in cases of alcohol dependence, where people drink excessive amounts regularly and often. Contrary to popular belief, brain cells do not die from consuming alcohol, instead the way that your brain communicates between cells is diminished, the effects of which are repaired hours after the alcohol has left your system. Similarly, only 8/10 people with alcohol dependence experience long-lasting damage to their livers. ([url]http://www.drinkaware.co.uk/facts/factsheets/alcohol-and-your-liver[/url]) The really important part of drinking is just to know your limits, never drink on an empty stomach and keep hydrated to avoid a hangover. The most damaging thing drinking does to you is maybe make you do something stupid you wouldn't do sober.[/QUOTE] I like what you're saying, so I'm going to listen to you. Thanks :smile:
[QUOTE=sltungle;26773921]I like what you're saying, so I'm going to listen to you. Thanks :smile:[/QUOTE] You're welcome. Drink to me. Learning your limits isn't really easy, though; it will take trial and error. At the end of the day, you'll be healthy, though you might have a few bruises and an injured pride. Tips: If you want to play drinking games, use lager or beer. Don't be pressured into doing shots. Preferably, stick to one type of alcohol. People get drunk, do stupid things, life goes on.
I've already gotten pretty badly drunk twice (once wasn't my fault, the other time was nobody's fault BUT mine). I don't intend to be doing that again.
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