Which of the following is a consequence of alcohol abuse?

Alcohol abuse can lead to a variety of serious health consequences, one of which is heart disease. Chronic consumption of alcohol can have detrimental effects on the cardiovascular system, leading to conditions such as high blood pressure, cardiomyopathy (a disease of the heart muscle), arrhythmias (irregular heartbeats), and an increased risk of heart attack and stroke. These conditions arise from the way alcohol impacts the health of blood vessels and the heart itself.

In contrast, the other options do not accurately reflect the consequences of alcohol abuse. Legal issues pertain to behavior that may result from alcohol use, but they do not encompass the physical health effects. Increased appetite and improved mental clarity are also misleading, as alcohol typically affects cognitive function negatively and is more often associated with decreased appetite over time, rather than increases.