Alcohol abuse claims almost 40,000 lives a year in the U.S. alone. It is often overlooked because it’s available everywhere and even offered with meals, but alcohol is one of the most dangerous drugs available.
There is a big difference between enjoying the odd glass of wine and being an alcoholic. But it is important to know the negative effects of alcohol addiction.
Alcohol abuse isn’t just dangerous for your physical health. It can be detrimental to your mental health and have a detrimental effect on the people around you.
Let’s take a look at the many ways that alcoholism can harm your body, mind, and family.
Alcoholism and Your Body
Alcohol abuse can cause a vast number of complications to your physical health. It can affect your internal organs, central nervous system, and even your digestive system.
Inflammatory Damage
Your liver is responsible for breaking down harmful substances such as alcohol and removing them from your body. Sustained alcohol use impedes this function.
Alcohol abuse can cause inflammation of the liver, which can become chronic and lead to liver disease. The damage caused by inflammation of the liver produces scarring known as cirrhosis.
As the amount of scar tissue increases and the liver becomes increasingly damaged, it becomes less efficient at removing harmful substances from the body.
The build-up of toxins and waste in the body as a result of liver damage can result in a compromised immune system and even death.
The Central Nervous System
Alcohol affects the rate at which the brain can communicate with the body. In the short-term, we notice this almost immediately when we are drunk. Our coordination is compromised, our speech becomes slurred and our judgment is impaired.
Throughout long-term alcohol use, these symptoms can become more permanent. It becomes increasingly difficult to think clearly and the risk of permanent brain damage is increased.
Alcoholics also frequently suffer from numbness and tingling sensations in the extremities.
The Digestive System
Regular drinking can eventually lead to the damage of tissues in your digestive tract. This makes it harder for you to absorb the necessary vitamins and nutrients from food.
Alcohol abuse also causes dehydration which can lead to stomach ulcers and hemorrhoids.
Sexual Health
While alcohol might be known to lower inhibitions and offer a dose of ‘Dutch courage, it can also have a negative impact when it comes to bedroom activities.
Studies have found that a large percentage of males with alcohol dependence also suffer from sexual dysfunction. This includes erectile dysfunction, premature ejaculation, and diminished sexual desire. Head over to Boston Medical Group to have premature ejaculation treatments.
Women who drink regularly also increase their chances of infertility as regular consumption of alcohol can cause them to stop menstruating.
The Immune System
One of the most noticeable side-effects of alcohol abuse is a compromised immune system. Because of damage to the liver and the build-up of toxins in the body, the body has a much harder time fighting off viruses and germs.
Drinking alcohol regularly can also increase your chances of developing several types of cancer including:
- Mouth Cancer
- Breast Cancer
- Colon Cancer
- Liver Cancer
- Esophagus Cancer
Many of the physical effects of alcoholism can be reversed if the individual can stop drinking and turn to a healthier lifestyle. Rehab facilities such as VA alcohol rehab offer the perfect environment to curb yourself away from drinking and repair the damage to your body caused by alcohol.
Alcoholism and Your Mental Health
If alcohol affects the body, then it also affects the brain. Alcohol is one of the leading causes of mental health issues. Prolonged exposure to alcohol affects how the brain functions. This includes your motor skills as well as the different chemicals released in the body.
Alcohol and Brain Chemistry
Alcohol disrupts the balance of chemicals in the body, which affects our thoughts and feelings. When you start drinking it’s common to notice a more relaxed state of mind. A few drinks make most people less anxious and more confident.
Then as we continue to drink more, the effect alcohol has on our brain function increases. Most commonly drinkers note that negative thoughts and emotions begin to take over after a few too many.
This can lead to anxious and depressive thoughts as well as aggressive outbursts. If you continue to drink regularly then these negative emotions can become more prevalent.
When you’re not drinking the depression and anxiety worsen until you finally have a drink. The short period of solace is soon replaced by increasing bouts of negative thoughts and emotions.
The Vicious Cycle
Alcohol is often used to mask existing problems such as anxiety or depression. However, the more we drink the more alcohol we need to experience its sedative effects. This can lead to alcohol dependence, and the damage that is caused to your brain chemistry will worsen your original symptoms.
Alcohol and Grey Matter
Alcohol abuse can diminish white and grey matter in the brain. Less white and grey matter means that the brain can’t send and process information as it should.
It’s very common for alcoholics to suffer from:
- Memory loss
- Troubles with attention span
- Slurred speech
- Difficulties retaining information
- Difficulty learning
- Mood disturbances
This is essentially the result of alcohol-induced brain damage. Fortunately for heavy drinkers, the brain can repair itself, and new grey and white matter can be formed.
If you ever notice any of these symptoms you must talk with your doctor about reducing your alcohol intake to give your brain a chance to repair itself.
How Being an Alcoholic Impacts Your Loved Ones
Alcohol isn’t just a danger to yourself. Alcoholism can have a huge effect on those close to you. Family members often suffer more emotional stress than the alcoholic themselves. Alcohol places stress on your loved ones in several ways.
Financial Troubles
Alcohol isn’t free. If you’re drinking heavily and regularly, there’s a large chance that it’s very expensive. Like with any addiction, the substance in question often becomes the primary focus of the individual.
It’s very common for alcoholics to run up debts in the pursuit of drunkenness. Alcohol also lowers your inhibitions, which can also cause you to spend more. If you’ve been drinking for a while at a bar, it can be tempting to start drinking more expensive drinks or buying drinks for people you’ve just met.
Even at home, you might be more likely to splurge out on internet purchases if you’ve been drinking or even start gambling online.
Alcohol and Conflict
Alcoholism will put a strain on any relationship. It is difficult watching a loved one steadily causing harm to themselves. Not to mention the potential financial difficulties that can result from drinking.
These problems can often flare up in relationships and potentially lead to domestic abuse. Remember that alcohol affects your emotions and also your actions. If you are trying to do one thing and someone close to you is asking you to do another, it’s common to feel a little put upon.
However, where alcohol is involved, these disputes often become more heated and more frequent. It’s hard to explain, but asking an alcoholic to stop drinking is like asking them to give up something they need.
Their mood is down and their thinking is skewed. Alcoholics are known for aggressive outbursts -even if only verbal- and these can take a toll on anyone close to them.
Alcohol and Children
Children that grow up around an alcoholic are more likely to develop an alcohol addiction later in life. They are also likely to face mental disturbances such as anxiety and depression.
Children of alcoholics often suffer a form of neglect. Even if their alcoholic parent is always around, they are always under the influence or suffering the effects of alcohol.
Children will also notice the frequent changes in mood and behavior, and this causes complications in their behavioral development. Their ideas of what is right and wrong can easily become skewed.
Putting an End to Alcohol Addiction
Like any other form of substance abuse, alcohol addiction is often the result of a level of unfaced past trauma. The chances of developing an addiction are often increased when we have suffered traumas such as neglect in the past.
The key to putting an end to being an alcoholic is to look deeply into the reasons why you drink. It’s important to understand how our past shapes us, to move forward productively.
Speaking to professionals about moving forward, might be the last thing you want to do, but it’s paramount that alcohol abuse is masking something deeper than a need to be drunk!
For you and your loved ones, seek help today.
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