Skip section navigation (navigation may have changed)
Section navigation
http://www.girlshealth.gov/
Drugs, alcohol, and smoking
Straight talk about alcohol
How alcohol affects your body
Brain
Drinking alcohol leads to a loss of coordination, poor judgment, slowed reflexes, distorted vision, loss of memory, and even blackouts.
Heart
Drinking alcohol could cause your blood pressure to rise, increase your heart rate, cause your heart to beat abnormally, and can increase the size of your heart.
Stomach
You're putting empty calories into your body, which could cause weight gain. If you drink too much, you may vomit because alcohol is toxic. Drinking alcohol can also cause stomach ulcers and cancer.
Liver
Drinking alcohol could cause diseases such as cirrhosis (sir-o-sis). It can also cause hepatitis (inflamed liver) or even liver cancer, which weakens the liver's ability to clot and keep our blood free from poisons and bacteria.
Reproductive system
Heavy drinking can cause painful periods, heavy flow, discomfort before your period (PMS), and irregular periods (not getting your period when you're supposed to). Drinking also raises the risk of getting sexually assaulted and having unsafe sex.
Content last updated March 28, 2008
