I made the mistake of thinking binge drinking was okay in college. If you think binge drinking is not affecting your health, read on to find out how it can cause you health problems now, and in the future.
Hair Loss
GiphyAlcohol and hair loss are actually connected, but only if you binge drink on a regular basis. This is because alcohol does not contain any vitamins or minerals that your body needs to grow hair. Many people who binge drink will be taking in empty calories that offer nothing positive to your health. Over time, the lack of nutrients will make it more difficult for you to grow hair, leading to permanent hair loss.
Liver Disease
GiphyEveryone knows that alcohol is terrible for your liver. This is because your liver is responsible for cleaning the toxic alcohol out from your body. When you binge drink, you're forcing your liver to go into overdrive to try and clean out an excess amount of alcohol. Over time, this can do serious damage to your liver and even lead to liver disease in the future. Don't make the mistake of thinking you are invincible during your college years, because those nights spent binge drinking can catch up to down the road.
Gastrointestinal Issues
GiphyBinge drinking can lead to gastrointestinal problems such as ulcers or heartburn. This is because alcohol passes through the gastrointestinal tract, leaving behind toxic residue that will build up over time and cause serious health problems. With continued binge drinking, alcohol's toxic effect can cause regular ulcers and issues digesting food.
Problems With the Immune System
GiphyYou may have noticed that after a long weekend of binge drinking, you wake up Monday morning feeling terrible ill and can't make it to class. This isn't because you made out with 3 different people, it's because your immune system wasn't working properly. Consuming alcohol decreases your body's white blood cell count, which severely weakens your immune system. This makes you more susceptible to picking up dangerous illnesses such as the flu or pneumonia.
Brain Damage
GiphyThe average human's brain is still developing until the age of 24, which means those nights spent blacked out on your kitchen floor are affecting how your brain develops. Long-term heavy drinking can affect the production of neurotransmitters and decision making (even when sober). It can also speed up the brain's aging process, meaning you may have a decrease in brain function earlier in life.
Partying in college is a major part of the college experience for many people, and there's nothing wrong with that. But it's important to understand the impact that regular binge drinking can have on our overall health instead of believing we are indestructible college kids.
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