Five signs that alcohol is harming your health

In a recent article Dr Sanjay Mehta, Private London GP, provides some insight into the effects of alcohol and how it may be harming your health. With many people trying to cut back on their alcohol consumption or cut it out completely for Dry January this article outlines some of the reasons you may want to consider abstaining and giving your body a break.

Five signs that alcohol might be harming your health are:

Skin changes
Alcohol can cause blood vessels to temporarily enlarge, which may present as flushing or bruising on the skin.

Weight gain
Excess alcohol can lead to weight gain as not only does it increase your calorie intake, but it can also affect your bodies’ metabolism.

Numbness or tingling
Alcohol-related neuropathy or damage to the peripheral nerves. This can result in tingling in the feet and hands in some cases unsteadiness.

Heartburn
Alcohol can increase production of stomach acids and contribute to heartburn.

“Alcohol can trigger heartburn or worsen symptoms in individuals who are already affected by the condition, partly as alcohol stimulates increased production of stomach acid, which subsequently can damage the stomach’s inner lining.”

Malnutrition
Alcohol consumption can have an effect on appetite, sending false signals to the brain to imply a sense of fullness. As a result, this can lead to eating less, you’re missing out on important nutrients that your body needs.

For more information, read the full article here.

If you are concerned that alcohol is affecting your health then full health screening can help identify any concerns or issues.  To book an appointment with one of our private London doctors please get in touch with us here.