What are the physical effects that alcohol can have on a person?
I should start by letting you know that alcohol is not a stimulant; it is a sedative. Starting in the mouth, alcohol can be harmful when small cuts in the mouth do not heal correctly due to prolonged drinking, which causes irritation. This irritation, with time, might lead to cancer. For individuals who smoke and drink there is a 15% increase in the risk of developing lung cancer. In the stomach, alcohol attacks the interior lining and it increases the secretion of hydrochloric acid, essential for the digestion process. Hydrochloric acid and alcohol mixed damage the interior lining of the stomach which in time causes hemorrhage and ulceration. It might also cause ulceration in the small intestine, causing pain. On the other hand, if the nerves in the intestine are damaged by alcohol, a person might still have ulceration but might not feel pain. Alcohol disrupts all of the functions that the liver performs. Liver disease is the number one cause of death among alcoholics. When the liver
