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Complications
By Mayo Clinic staffHangovers themselves aren't usually associated with complications — but drinking too much alcohol can cause serious problems. In addition to impaired judgment and coordination, short-term memory loss and fatigue, regularly drinking too much alcohol may lead to:
- Alcohol poisoning. Taken in large enough quantities, alcohol can cause a life-threatening coma by severely depressing the brain centers that control breathing and heartbeat.
- Alcohol dependence. People who experience frequent hangovers have a higher risk of alcoholism.
- Liver disorders. Drinking heavily can lead to alcoholic hepatitis, an inflammation of the liver. Eventually hepatitis may lead to cirrhosis, the irreversible and progressive destruction of liver tissue.
- Gastrointestinal problems. Drinking too much alcohol can damage the pancreas and inflame the lining of the stomach (gastritis).
- Nutritional problems. Heavy drinking interferes with the absorption of the B vitamins — particularly folic acid and thiamin — and other nutrients.
- Cardiovascular problems. Excessive drinking can lead to high blood pressure and damage your heart muscle (cardiomyopathy).
- Diabetes complications. Alcohol can cause your blood sugar to fall, which can be especially dangerous if you have diabetes and are taking insulin to lower your blood sugar.
- Sexual dysfunction. A man who drinks too much alcohol may not be able to sustain an erection.
- Neurological complications. Excessive drinking can affect your nervous system, causing numbness of your hands and feet (neuropathy), disordered thinking and dementia.
- Psychological complications. Excessive drinking can lead to or complicate depression, anxiety and other mental health conditions.
- Medication interactions. Mixing alcohol and over-the-counter or prescription medications can be dangerous. Alcohol can keep some drugs from doing what they're supposed to do, such as treating or preventing a particular condition. Alcohol can also increase the likelihood of unwanted or serious side effects.
- Birth defects. If you drink during pregnancy, your baby may be born with birth defects or fetal alcohol syndrome. This condition causes mental retardation and behavioral problems.
- Increased risk of cancer. Chronic alcohol abuse has been linked to a higher risk of cancer of the esophagus, larynx, liver and colon.
