Why binge drinking is bad for you....

What is binge drinking?

Binge drinking refers to excessive consumption of alcohol over a short period of time. For a male adult, this is about five or more standard drinks, and for female, four or more drinks, in one drinking session.

Binge drinking increases the risk of stroke, liver diseases, high blood pressure, risky behaviour, accidents and death.

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Alcohol is often associated with celebrations. But too much alcohol can cause both short-term and long-term harmful effects and can cause death. This article shows you the other side of alcohol – something that doesn’t call for a celebration.

There is always a good reason to drink: parties, festive celebrations or watching a soccer game with your pals. But when one drinks excessively, it is hardly a case for celebration. Binge drinking, which refers to heavy drinking over a short period of time, can bring with it both short-term and long-term harmful effects.

Alcohol dependence
A person who drinks frequently, or drinks a lot may become addicted to alcohol.
Some signs of alcohol dependency include a strong urge to drink; the ability to drink larger quantities of alcohol without appearing intoxicated; persistent drinking; and undergoing withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop drinking.
Nearly 95 percent of all adults dependent on alcohol started drinking before the age of 21.

Short-term harms: Alcohol poisoning
Alcohol poisoning is the most life-threatening consequence of binge drinking. When a person drinks too much, his or her body’s reflexes are affected. These include breathing and the pharyngeal reflex. The pharyngeal reflex, also known as gag reflex, helps to prevent choking. If this reflex is not functioning well, one may die from choking on his or her vomit.

Some other signs of alcohol poisoning include:
lack of muscular coordination
blurred or double vision
drop in body temperature
low blood sugar concentration
low blood pressure
impaired judgement
coma

If a person shows signs of alcohol poisoning, lay him on his side and call for immediate medical attention. Alcohol poisoning can be deadly.

Long-term harms
Drinking alcohol excessively and frequently for a long period of time can cause harm to several parts of the body.

Effects & description:

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Accidents, injuries and high-risk behaviours – Drink driving accounts for a large proportion of those injured or killed in road traffic accidents. Also, alcohol abuse is associated with high-risk behaviours such as physical assaults and risky sexual behaviour.

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Text lifted from: http://www.hpb.gov.sg/substanceabuse/article.aspx?id=414

And why too much alchohol is bad? It makes you fat.

Myth: If I go straight for drinks and skip dinner, I will imbibe less calories

FACT: Three cans of beer provide about 390 calories with little or no nutrients, whereas a bowl of fishball noodle soup gives about 330 calories with lots more nutrients packed in.If you drink excessively in place of a proper dinner, you risk not just consuming more calories but alcoholic poisoning too.

Also, alcohol is more easily metabolised into fat than the protein and carbohydrates in a nutritious meal, said Dr Tan.