From the brain to the heart, via the liver: this is how alcohol destroys your body

It's no secret that alcohol is a harmful substance. The World Health Organization warns that no level of alcohol is safe for health. It's classified as a Group 1 carcinogen (the same category as tobacco) and has been conclusively linked to at least seven types of cancer.

Studies also show that even moderate alcohol consumption increases the risk of countless health problems, from heart disease to liver damage and even depression.

But the good news is that doctors emphasize that the damage isn't permanent. "The benefits of quitting alcohol occur gradually over time," says Professor Debbie Shawcross , a liver specialist at King's College Hospital in London, in an article published by the Daily Mail .

During the first few weeks of abstinence, improvements in sleep quality, concentration, hydration, and digestion are observed. In the long term, blood pressure will drop and the strain on the liver will be reduced.

The same report explains the benefits in detail.

Good for sleep and mental health

Although many people swear that a drink before bed helps them fall asleep, alcohol is a depressant , and sedation is not the same as sleep.

"It's important to remember that alcohol is a depressant, and sedation is different from sleep," says Annabelle Bonus , research director at the British alcohol charity Drink Aware.

But Professor Shawcross says these changes are reversible. Some people see results within a few days of quitting drinking; for most, noticeable improvements in sleep and mood occur within a couple of months, as brain neurotransmitters are restored.

Aids digestion and relieves acid reflux

Alcohol irritates the stomach and relaxes the valve that prevents acid from rising in the throat, causing heartburn. Lying down after drinking makes it worse.

Quitting alcohol can relieve reflux almost immediately , Professor Shawcross said. Many people experience calmer digestion within days.

Protect your heart

Alcohol increases blood pressure and fuels oxidative stress, damaging blood proteins, raising LDL cholesterol, and increasing the risk of stroke and heart attack.

Inflammation increases the likelihood of dangerous blood clots forming. The good news is that when you stop drinking, your body begins to eliminate free radicals. Heart health improves from the first day without alcohol.

Improves brain health

Alcohol is both a depressant and a neurotoxin. It shrinks brain tissue, impairs memory, and disrupts dopamine and serotonin production, leading to low mood and loss of motivation.

But the brain is resilient. "Maintaining sobriety can improve mood, cognitive function, and memory, but these effects can also be felt in the short term," says Professor Shawcross.

Quitting drinking allows the brain to rebalance its chemistry , leading to clearer thinking, greater well-being, and a lower risk of dementia later in life.

Liver protection

The liver processes up to 98% of alcohol at a fixed rate : one drink per hour. Excess alcohol remains in the blood, and repeated binges force the organ into overdrive.

Fat accumulates, the liver becomes inflamed, and scarring develops. If left unchecked, this develops into cirrhosis, which can be fatal . One in six patients with alcohol-related cirrhosis will develop liver cancer.

"If there is too much alcohol in the blood , the liver cannot speed up the detoxification process , meaning alcohol can remain in the blood for up to six hours after the last drink," Professor Shawcross said.

"In some cases, it can take several days for the liver to recover after a binge , and sometimes even weeks or months if the damage is severe," he continues.

The good news: Prolonged abstinence dramatically reduces the risk of cirrhosis and cancer.

The risk of cancer is reduced

Every drink increases the risk. Just one a week increases it by three percent. One small glass of wine a day (about 10 a week) increases it by 15%. Two bottles a week (20 a week) increases it by 27%, meaning that 14 out of every 100 women who drink that amount may develop breast cancer.

Alcohol has also been linked to cancers of the liver, mouth, head and neck, bowel, and throat. But quitting reduces the odds, and the longer you stay sober, the lower your risk.