Chronic alcohol drinkers aren't the only ones who are in danger of lasting liver problems. A recent study on ScienceDaily.com says that even those who binge on weekends may have more health issues that what has been previously thought.

Researchers from the University of Missouri found that although binge drinking in alcoholics may cause a great deal of physiological damage, those who consume alcohol regularly after certain intervals may also face problems by sensitizing their liver over an extended period of time.

The liver is the main metabolic site of the body. It processes everything from food to drugs and distributes them to other systems. It also produces certain chemicals and agents needed by important organs such as the heart and the kidneys. Over-saturating the liver with alcohol -- even only during weekends -- can cause damage not only to the liver, but also to different parts of the body.

Medical pharmacology and physiology professor Dr. Shivendra Shukla, explains: "Binge drinking should not be associated with only liver damage. It creates an inflammatory response in the liver that is like a cluster bomb, sending out various damaging signals to systems in the body. If those organs are working at a lower level of function, then a whole host of physiological processes is affected."

For women, having four or more drinks in a span of two hours is considered binge drinking. For men, it's having five or more drinks. So know your limits, and steer clear of having too much too often.

(Photo by Lindsey G via Flickr Creative Commons)