5 Weird Short-Term Effects of Alcohol to Keep in Mind

A recent report found that 60% of US adults drank alcoholic beverages in 2021. If you’re amongst this number, you’re probably aware of the long-term health risks of drinking too much alcohol, but these are not the only considerations when drinking your favorite tipple.

Although you may not have heard about them, there are also some weird short-term effects of alcohol, and knowing about them can help you manage the symptoms. This knowledge could make it easier for you to continue your daily activities without feeling the worse for wear.

Let’s find out more.

1. Alcohol Could Make You Colder

One of the most misunderstood alcohol effects is that it makes your core body temperature cooler rather than warmer. As alcohol dilates your blood vessels, blood goes towards the skin rather than keeping your core warm. When the cold air comes into contact with your skin, the blood underneath will also cool down.

If you are cold, don’t be tempted to drink alcohol to warm you up.

2. Diarrhea

Alcohol can cause your stomach to produce more gastric acid, which can irritate your stomach. The rate with which your colon squeezes when pushing out a stool may also increase, reducing how much water the organ can absorb.

This can lead to you suffering from diarrhea, which can also be a factor in the link between alcohol and dehydration.

3. Nocturnal Enuresis

Nocturnal enuresis is better known as bedwetting and can be more common after consuming alcoholic beverages. Alcohol can irritate the bladder, making you need the toilet more often. After drinking, you may also be more likely to ignore your body’s signals that you need the bathroom and try to continue sleeping.

You could then wake up in a wet bed and need to change the sheets.

4. Hiccups

If you’ve wondered ‘does alcohol cause hiccups’, the answer is that it could contribute to them. If your stomach expands far enough when drinking, it may make contact with your diaphragm and cause it to become irritated. This could lead to an episode of hiccups.

You can read more about alcohol hiccups for additional information.

5. Nightmares

Alcohol can disturb your sleep cycle and potentially lead to you having more nightmares. You could also notice your sleep quality deteriorates after drinking and that you don’t feel as well rested in the morning.

Be Aware of These Short-Term Effects of Alcohol

These short-term effects of alcohol can be debilitating even if they don’t last for long. You may want to prepare for feeling a bit chillier and possibly having loose stools, while you could also be more prone to bedwetting through the night. Hiccups can make it harder to concentrate, and you may also find it more difficult to have a restful sleep.

Now that you know about these effects, you can decide if you want that next drink.

If you’ve found this post interesting, read more of our lifestyle articles before you go.