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How binge drinking can damage your brain and overall health

How binge drinking can damage your brain and overall health
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Binge drinking or excessive alcohol consumption in adolescence can have lasting effects o the brain says a new study by the University of Illinois at Chicago Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics.

Written by Upneet Pansare |Updated : February 8, 2019 10:23 AM IST

Binge drinking and even regular consumption of alcohol are a big NO-NO as far as health is concerned. Numerous studies have shown that alcohol consumption is detrimental to your health. A new research by the University of Illinois at Chicago Center for Alcohol Research in Epigenetics has new evidence to support this claim. It says that binge drinking in adolescence can have 'lasting effects on the wiring of the brain and is associated with increased risk for psychological problems and alcohol use disorder later in life,' according to an article published on the University's website. The study published in the journal Translational Psychiatry claims that 'some of these lasting changes are the result of epigenetic changes that alter the expression of a protein crucial for the formation and maintenance of neural connections in the amygdala the part of the brain involved in emotion, fear and anxiety.'

Other ways excess alcohol consumption or binge drinking can have an effect on you:

Cardiovascular diseases: A study by Vanderbilt University found that young adults who frequently binge drink are more likely to have specific cardiovascular risk factors at a younger age than non-binge drinkers. Binge drinking by young men is associated with higher systolic blood pressure and that frequent binge drinking has additional effects on cholesterol, both factors contribute to cardiovascular diseases.

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Social media addiction: A study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs noted that college students who binge drink frequently post on social media in an intoxicated condition and show signs of social media addiction. Binge drinkers show greater intensity towards social media (more emotional investment that allowed social media to become part of their identities). They also use more social media platforms than non-binge drinkers.

Can affect the health of offpring: A study published in the Journal of the Endocrine Society says that binge drinking during pregnancy may have negative consequences on the offspring s growth, social interactions, and pubertal development.

Memory problems: A study in the Journal of Neuroscience found that binge drinking in adolescence affects the human prefrontal cortex (PFC), which is involved in planning actions and suppresses inappropriate responses and maintains working memory (which governs very short-term memory) and attention.

Fractures and osteoporosis: In a study in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs, it was observed that girls who binge on alcohol may fail to reach their peak bone mass, increasing their risk of fractures in adulthood as well as osteoporosis -- a condition in which bones become weak and brittle.

Diabetes: According to a study in BMC Public Health, regular high alcohol consumption from the age of 16 is associated with higher glucose concentrations in women's blood, an important risk factor for type 2 diabetes, later in life.

Poor immunity: In a study led by a researcher at Loyola University Chicago Stritch School of Medicine, it was found that binge drinking in young, healthy adults significantly disrupts the immune system.

Liver damage: Binge drinking can create an inflammatory response in the liver that is like a cluster bomb, sending out various damaging signals to other organ systems in the body notes a study in Hepatology International, the journal of the Asian Pacific Association.

With inputs from ANI and IANS