Effect on the heart

The effects of alcohol consumption on the cardiovascular system have been discussed for decades. Many scientists are of the opinion that a moderate consumption of alcohol, of a maximum of one glass of red wine a day, can reduce the risk of cardiovascular disease. If more is drunk, however, the risk of heart damage increases significantly.

Alcohol causes the blood pressure to rise acutely and thus influences the heartbeat. The heart therefore beats faster than normal. This can lead to cardiac arrhythmia such as extrasystoles (additional heartbeats) and atrial fibrillation.

Regular alcohol consumption can cause extrasystoles even in young people. These often go unnoticed and occur even when the person is otherwise healthy. In the long term, the increased blood pressure can have a negative effect on the cardiovascular system.

In alcoholics who consume a lot during the day, high blood pressure often requires treatment. Excessive alcohol consumption can promote heart muscle diseases and cardiac arrhythmia such as atrial fibrillation. In the worst case, alcohol abuse can even lead to sudden cardiac death.

Effect on the liver

The liver is responsible for 90% of the breakdown of alcohol and suffers most from excessive consumption. The liver breaks down the alcohol in two phases with the help of liver enzymes.

In the first phase, the alcohol is broken down by the enzyme alcohol dehydrogenase.
A toxic intermediate product is formed: acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is responsible for damage throughout the body when alcohol is misused.
In the second phase of alcohol decomposition, acetaldehyde is converted into acetate (acetic acid). The acetic acid is further converted and introduced into the natural metabolism: the citrate cycle, the fatty acid cycle and the cholesterol synthesis.
Excessive alcohol consumption therefore leads to increased fatty acids in the liver. This explains why alcohol abuse can lead to a fatty liver. If one consumes too much alcohol, the body tries to adapt to the need and activates a further enzyme, the “mixed-functional oxidase” (MEOS).

This enzyme helps to break down the alcohol into acetaldehyde more quickly. However, the resulting toxin is not broken down more quickly, but is instead present in the body in larger quantities. The acetaldehyde already damages the cell function of the liver cells in the short and medium term.

In the long term, the accumulation of fatty acids in the liver leads to the formation of fatty liver. Over time, the fatty liver can become inflamed, resulting in fatty liver hepatitis. This eventually leads to the destruction of the liver lobules.

In the long term, liver cirrhosis (shrunken liver) develops. Due to the inflammatory processes in the liver, liver cells are replaced by functionless connective tissue, so that the liver can perform its tasks less and less effectively. Unfortunately, cirrhosis of the liver is irreversible and becomes life-threatening as it progresses.