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When a pregnant mother drinks alcohol so does her unborn infant. Alcohol passes freely through the placenta to your baby and this increases the risk that they will be born with (FASD) fetal alcohol spectrum disorder. Drinking while pregnant can lead to developmental defects, learning disabilities, low birth weight, and even slow growth.

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The teen brain is still developing and keeps developing into the 20s and even early 30s. When alcohol is introduced at this influential time it impairs memory function as well as the way nerve cells communicate with each other. The largest section of the brain that is effected when a teen drinks in the hippocampus and this region controls memory and learning. This means that binge drinking during adolescences can permanently change the way the brain functions.

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A pregnant woman puts her infant at risk for fetal alcohol syndrome and mental development by drinking while pregnant. According to the CDC during a study that was conducted during the years of 2011-2013 "1 in 10 women reported any alcohol use and 1 and 33 reported binge drinking during a 30 day time span"

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The Liver is only able to handle a certain amount of alcohol at a certain time.

When alcohol reaches the liver it produces an enzyme called acetaldehyde which damages liver cells and permanently causes scarring.

Alcohol asks as a diuretic when it enters the body, which dehydrates you. The liver works most efficent when water is filtered through its system. Therefore this causes the liver to get water elsewhere in the body. Due to the dehydration of the body you will experience a headache usually after a night of drinking.

Alcoholic hepatitis is caused by the inflammation of the liver due to excessive drinking. This condition makes the liver swollen and tender.

Cirrhosis happens when the liver's cells are too damaged and become covered with scar tissue because of chronic inflammation. This scar tissue does not allow proper flow of blood and fluids through the liver. When this happens the liver becomes hard because of the bad flow and less liver cells.

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There are many prevention tips but one organization I will talk about is Alcohol Anonymous.

What is it?

Alcohol Anonymous is an International fellowship of men and women who have or have had a problem with drinking. There are no age limits or educational requirements. Membership is open to anyone who wants to get help with their drinking problems.

What do they do?

A.A members give their own experience of how alcohol impacted their lives to others seeking to get help. They give person to person service or sponsorship to the alcoholic coming to A.A from any source. They go through a twelve step program which allows the member to become set to life a better lifestyle without alcohol.

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https://www.sciencenewsforstudents.org/article/alcohol-can-rewire-teenage-brain

https://www.healthline.com/health/alcohol/effects-on-body#1

https://www.health.com/alcoholism/effects-of-alcohol-on-the-brain

https://www.cdc.gov/ncbddd/fasd/data.html

http://loveyourliver.com.au/alcohol/

https://www.aa.org/pages/en_US/information-on-alcoholics-anonymous

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Alcohol slows down the neurotransmitters, which causes sluggish movement, slurred speech, and slower reaction time.

Alcohol speeds up the neurotransmitter called glutamate that regulates dopamine in the brain's reward center though which gives people the pleasure of well-being. This causes people to be a lot more social and out-going.

Alcohol affects the cerebellum which regulates balance and the cerebral cortex. When both these regions are affected staggered walking occurs with blurred or double vision.

The hippocampus region which creates new memories is hindered by blackouts and short-term memory lapses. Men and women experience equal rates of alcohol-
Induced blackouts. Although , women drink less often and less heavier than men.

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Approximately 20 to 30% of patients admitted to a hospital are alcohol abusers. Heavy drinking is one of the leading causes of cardiovascular disease and leads to increased risk for sudden cardiac death as wells as cardiac arrhythmia.