Knowing Alcohol Harms the Body, Why Can'

Knowing Alcohol Harms the Body, Why Can't We Quit? You May Never Have Seen These Dangers Clearly

 

Alcohol seems to be an inescapable part of human civilization—from toasting at friend gatherings, spicing up family feasts, to sipping alone, it can easily appear in every corner of life. Yet we clearly have long known that "drinking harms the body," so why do countless people around the world still keep the habit of drinking? Moreover, the harm alcohol does to the body is far more "comprehensive" and irreversible than we might imagine.

 

First, let's tackle the confusing question: knowing it's harmful, why has the habit of drinking persisted to this day? Behind this lie two core reasons—one related to culture, and the other to psychology.

 

From a cultural perspective, drinking is no longer simply "having a drink"; it has become a social symbol embedded in the collective memory. In ancient sacrificial rituals, alcohol served as a medium connecting humans with beliefs; at traditional banquets, it was a tool to show respect and draw people closer; even in modern times, during business negotiations or reunions with friends, "raising a glass" is still regarded as a way to quickly break awkwardness and enhance bonds. What's more, the wine-making industry in many regions is deeply tied to geographical environments and agricultural development—French wine, German beer, and Chinese Baijiu have long become part of local cultural identities. This kind of inheritance endows the habit of drinking with an irreplaceable "cultural weight."

 

From a psychological standpoint, alcohol can bring immediate emotional satisfaction, which is its most "tempting" feature. When stressed, a glass of alcohol seems to temporarily dilute anxiety; when feeling down, a few drinks may make people temporarily forget their troubles; in social settings, a slightly tipsy state can make people more relaxed and willing to express themselves. This "instant" psychological comfort easily makes people overlook the long-term harm hidden behind it—it's like being willing to swallow a bitter pill wrapped in sugar coating for a moment of sweetness.

 

In reality, however, the harm alcohol inflicts on the body is a systemic and persistent "infiltration." From the liver to the nervous system, from the digestive system to the cardiovascular system, almost no bodily system can escape its impact.

 

The liver bears the brunt. As the "main battlefield" for alcohol metabolism, the liver endures damage every time it processes alcohol. People who drink for a long time often go through a three-stage process: "alcoholic fatty liver → alcoholic hepatitis → alcoholic cirrhosis." Early-stage fatty liver may be reversed by quitting drinking, but once it progresses to cirrhosis, a large number of liver cells die, leading to irreversible damage. In severe cases, it can even induce liver cancer.

 

The digestive system is also a "hard-hit area" for alcohol. Alcohol directly burns the gastric mucosa—heavy drinking in the short term may trigger acute gastritis, causing severe stomach pain and vomiting; long-term drinking repeatedly damages the gastric mucosa, gradually leading to chronic gastritis, gastric ulcers, and even increasing the risk of gastric bleeding. More dangerously, alcohol disrupts pancreatic function and induces acute pancreatitis—a disease that develops rapidly with a high mortality rate. Even if many patients are rescued, they may be left with lifelong sequelae.

 

The nervous system is equally vulnerable. Heavy drinking in the short term impairs the central nervous system, causing slow reactions and confusion; long-term drinking gradually "erodes" neurons, triggering peripheral neuropathy (such as numbness in hands and feet); in severe cases, it can lead to memory loss, cognitive impairment, and even develop into alcoholic encephalopathy, depriving people of the ability to take care of themselves.

 

Even the cardiovascular system, which we consider "strong," is quietly damaged by alcohol. Long-term drinking raises blood pressure, disrupts blood lipids, and accelerates the progression of atherosclerosis; it can also induce alcoholic cardiomyopathy, causing the heart to gradually enlarge and its function to decline, eventually leading to heart failure.

 

Most alarmingly, the World Health Organization has long classified alcohol as a Group 1 carcinogen—on par with tobacco and asbestos. Long-term drinking significantly increases the risk of developing various cancers, including oral cancer, throat cancer, esophageal cancer, liver cancer, and colorectal cancer. The greater the amount of alcohol consumed and the longer the drinking duration, the higher the risk.

 

In fact, we don't need to completely reject drinking culture; instead, we need to clearly recognize that the immediate pleasure brought by alcohol comes at the cost of long-term health. Behind that temporary relaxation and short-lived comfort are the silent struggles of the liver, stomach, intestines, and nerves. Next time before raising a glass, it's worth thinking: compared to a moment of indulgence, a body free from stomach pain, numbness, and with a healthy liver is probably something more worth cherishing. After all, true joy never needs to be exchanged for health.