The heavy, chronic use of alcohol will
a) aid in weight loss in women only, although the reason for this is not known at present.
b) alter the normal pattern of bacterial growth in the mouth, increasing the drinker's risk for pneumonia should these bacteria be aspirated.
c) reduce the effects of sleep apnea as it causes the muscles of the trachea to become more relaxed and less tense.
d) increase the effectiveness of the immune system through the manner in which glucose derived from alcohol biotransformation becomes a source of energy for the white blood cells.