Why do we feel happy when we are drunk? Is it because of who we are with? Is it because of the moment? Or is it because of what we drink?
Why does alcohol make you happy? Alcohol is an addictive substance, which means it has the power to significantly alter our thoughts and feelings, even if we do not usually recognize it as such. Here, we will know why and how alcohol makes us happy and its diverse effects on health.
In most cases, people drink beer, wine, and distilled spirits like tequila, vodka, and gin. While barley and grapes are used in the fermentation of beer and wine, other types of starches or sugars are used in the fermentation of distilled spirits and flavorings. Alcohol's adverse effects on health extend beyond feeling groggy and lethargic the morning after a night of drinking. Experts have shown that alcohol can have both favorable and harmful effects on the body depending on how much, for how long, and how often you drink.
When you take a drink, the alcohol enters your stomach and travels through your intestines before entering your bloodstream. Once inside your brain, it passes the blood-brain barrier and into the actual brain tissue. It then circulates via your heart and up to your brain. Your central nervous system is depressed by alcohol, which prevents the neurological impulses required for healthy brain function. Alcohol interacts with the brain's neural networks affecting mood and behavior.
Moreover, alcohol is frequently used as a favorite coping mechanism to try and manage stress and anxiety, especially in social situations. Alcohol can temporarily lessen anxiety by increasing the body's production of dopamine and serotonin, two of the body's "happy hormones." Our bodies manufacture more of these hormones when we start drinking alcohol, and these additional hormones flow to the brain's reward centers or the regions that make us feel good and desire to do more of what we are doing.
Although it is verified that alcohol enhances a person's emotional being, constant and continuous drinking of alcohol fluctuates the hormones into abnormal numbers. The less pleasurable side effects of alcohol, such as disorientation, clumsiness, nausea, and thirst, will gradually overshadow dopamine and serotonin original purpose and effect.
The context of drinking is significant in the prevalence of alcohol-related damage, particularly alcohol intoxication. Alcohol use can influence not just the occurrence of illnesses, injuries, and other health issues but also their consequences and how they change over time.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), More than 200 illnesses, injuries, and other health issues are linked to alcohol intake. Drinking alcohol increases the chance of developing mental and behavioral disorders, including alcohol dependency, severe noncommunicable illnesses such as liver cirrhosis, several malignancies, and cardiovascular disease. The overall volume of alcohol ingested and the pattern of drinking, particularly those associated with bouts of excessive drinking, significantly influence the impact of alcohol intake on chronic and acute health consequences.
This proves the significance of the phrase "Drink Moderately." Moderate alcohol intake may have certain health advantages, including lowering your chance of developing and dying from heart disease. Possibly lowering your chance of ischemic stroke (when the arteries leading to the brain constrict or block, resulting in substantially restricted blood flow) and possibly lowering the risk of diabetes.
Nonetheless, the health benefits of alcohol are overruled by its health risks. It is essential to keep in mind that every hour can be a "Happy Hour" with or without the presence of alcohol. Always remember that everything good is paired with moderation. (CMU BSND OJT Junice Espinosa / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. / 09631091098)
References:
Alcohol use: Weighing risks and benefits. (2021, December 11). Mayo Clinic. Retrieved September 29, 2022, from https://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/nutrition-and-healthy-eating/in-depth/alcohol/art-20044551?reDate=29092022#:%7E:text=Moderate%20alcohol%20consumption%20may%20provide,reducing%20your%20risk%20of%20diabetes
Alcohol. (2018, November 21). Retrieved September 29, 2022, from https://www.who.int/health-topics/alcohol#tab=tab_1
Alcohol. (2022, May 9). Retrieved October 4, 2022, from https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/alcohol
Change Uk, A. (2022, April 27). How does alcohol affect your mood? | Fact sheet. Alcohol Change UK. Retrieved September 29, 2022, from https://alcoholchange.org.uk/alcohol-facts/fact-sheets/alcohol-and-your-mood#:%7E:text=Since%20alcohol%20can%20increase%20the,dehydration%2C%20leading%20to%20worse%20anxiety.
Gregory, N. (2022, May 18). The Good—And Bad—Health Effects Of Alcohol. Forbes Health. Retrieved September 29, 2022, from https://www.forbes.com/health/body/health-effects-of-alcohol/
