The Effects Of Binge-Drinking: How Dangerous It Can Actually Be

Turns out the occasional binge-drinking session can cause permanent damage to your health, especially if you're a woman. Cue panic.

Researchers at the University of Massachusetts Medical School claim just one heavy evening on the sauce causes bacteria to leak from the gut, resulting in increased levels of toxins in the blood which forces the body to produce immune cells involved in fever, inflammation and tissue destruction. Gross.

"We found that a single alcohol binge can elicit an immune response, potentially impacting the health of an otherwise healthy individual," said lead author Gyongyi Szabo, a professor of medicine at the university.