Alcohol is often seen as less serious. However, there are a number of more insidious effects and consequences...
- Athletes who consume excessive alcohol after practice or game may subsequently have impairment of athletic skills for as long as 14 hours.
- Reaction time, balance, coordination, strength, power, and speed are just some of the physical capacities that remain compromised the morning after a night of drinking even when the drinking was moderate.
- Drinking alcohol has been found to interfere with the loading of carbohydrates in muscles (muscle glycogen synthesis) during the exercise recovery phase resulting in lower endurance.
- Alcohol is a diuretic and contributes to dehydration problems.
- Alcohol can significantly interfere with adequate sleep:
i. Staying up late partying
ii. Interfering with temperature regulation after going to sleep - Alcohol has been found to lengthen the recovery and rehabilitation time associated with an injury (depletes minerals/vitamins, dehydrates, and interferes with sleep – body has to fend off effects of alcohol rather than spend it’s time mending the injury).
- Alcohol can contribute to weight problems:
i. High calories (4 carb, 4 protein, 9 fat, 7 alcohol – ea gram)
ii. Stimulates appetite
Reference: Dr. Erich Duchmann, LSU Team Psychologist
