Alcohol and your body

English | Cymraeg

Drinking alcohol can affect your body in all sorts of different ways; explore some of the most common effects on our body map.

Brain

The immediate effects of drinking on your brain can include slurred speech, slow reactions, impaired memory and blackouts. Over the longer-term, heavy drinking can cause a number of different types of brain damage.

Overuse of alcohol can worsen the symptoms of many mental health problems. In particular, it can lead to low mood and anxiety.

Find out more about alcohol, the brain and mental health

Mouth and throat

If you regularly drink above 14 units a week you are increasing your risk of developing cancer of the mouth, larynx (voice box), pharynx (upper throat) and oesophagus (food pipe). This risk increases further if you smoke.

Find out more about alcohol and cancer

Heart

There is increasing evidence that low-to-moderate alcohol consumption is associated with a lower risk of cardiovascular disease and some other heart conditions. However, this risk starts to rise when consuming above 14 units per week. Heavy drinking is also associated with both hypertension and increased risk of stroke.

Find out more about alcohol and the heart

Breasts

More than 50 studies have confirmed that alcohol is a particular risk factor for breast cancer. Alcohol seems to increase production of the female hormone oestrogen, and excess oestrogen can make breast cells cancerous.

Find out more about alcohol and cancer

Stomach

Drinking too much can cause gastritis (inflammation of the stomach lining) and stomach ulcers. It can also lead to uncomfortable reflux – digestive contents being forced up into your oesophagus (food pipe).

Heavy drinking can also increase your risk of stomach and bowel cancer.

Find out more about alcohol and cancer

Liver

Most alcohol that goes into your body is processed by your liver, and if it has to break down too much alcohol the health of your liver will suffer.

Long-term, drinking too much alcohol can lead to fatty liver, hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) and cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and also liver cancer.

Find out more about alcohol and the liver

Reproductive system

Men may suffer temporary impotence after a bout of drinking. Long-term, dependent drinking can cause the sexual organs to shrink in men and women.

Find out more about alcohol and sex

Click on the figure to discover the effects of alcohol on your health

Choose From:

Brain
Mouth and throat
Heart
Breasts
Stomach
Liver
Reproductive system

Select a body part below to find out more about the effects of alcohol on your health.

Overuse of alcohol can worsen the symptoms of many mental health problems. In particular, it can lead to low mood and anxiety.

Find out more about alcohol, the brain and mental health

Find out more about alcohol and cancer

Find out more about alcohol and the heart

Find out more about alcohol and cancer

Heavy drinking can also increase your risk of stomach and bowel cancer.

Find out more about alcohol and cancer

Most alcohol that goes into your body is processed by your liver, and if it has to break down too much alcohol the health of your liver will suffer.

Long-term, drinking too much alcohol can lead to fatty liver, hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) and cirrhosis (scarring of the liver) and also liver cancer.

Find out more about alcohol and the liver

Men may suffer temporary impotence after a bout of drinking. Long-term, dependent drinking can cause the sexual organs to shrink in men and women.

Find out more about alcohol and sex

If you're worried you may be drinking too much or even just curious, take this quick health check to find out if your drinking is affecting your health.

Check your drinking

Find out more about alcohol and you

Alcohol and relationships leaflet: how alcohol can affect us

Alcohol can affect our relationships in all sorts of ways and can have a negative impact on our own health and wellbeing and that of those we love.

Am I drinking too much?

Knowing ‘how much is too much’ can be confusing when it comes to alcohol.

Tips for cutting down

Thinking about your drinking but not sure where to start?

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Alcohol and your body

Brain

Mouth and throat

Heart

Breasts

Stomach

Liver

Reproductive system

Choose From:

Select a body part below to find out more about the effects of alcohol on your health.

Find out more about alcohol and you

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