If someone continues to drink alcohol, what effect can it have on their bodily functions?

Consuming alcohol can significantly impact the body's physiological processes, particularly at high levels. One of the serious effects of excessive alcohol consumption is the potential to slow or even stop heart and lung functions. This is primarily due to alcohol's depressant effects on the central nervous system, which can lead to respiratory depression. When this occurs, the brain may not signal the body to breathe effectively, ultimately affecting oxygen delivery and leading to dangerous levels of oxygen deprivation in vital organs. Such conditions can be life-threatening and are critical to understand in the context of alcohol's effects on overall bodily function.