The Blood
When excess alcohol is consumed, the blood gets thick and sluggish with red blood cells clumping up together. This causes the cell death as experienced in the brain, but can also cause capillaries to break open near the skin (drinkers nose) and blood vessels can burst within the stomach leading to internal bleeding. Long term chronic consumption can cause anemia and bone marrow changes, affecting the immune system and lessening our resistance to opportunistic infections.
The Heart
Alcohol decreases blood flow to the heart, and can result in heart muscle atrophy, and an increased risk of heart disease and heart attack.
page last update Nov 17, 2010
