Effect of alcoholism on the body: things you need to know
Alcoholism is an addiction that can become both physical and psychological in nature, affecting the drinker’s body as well as their mind. If you are concerned about the effect of alcoholism on your body or someone else’s, read on to learn more about how alcohol impacts the body, what it does to your brain, and how long-term abuse of alcohol can influence your overall health and well-being. Alcoholism, or drinking to excess and becoming dependent on alcohol, can cause serious damage to your body and lead to health issues that you may not even realize are related to your alcohol use. If you want to quit drinking but don’t know how to start or if you suspect that your drinking has become problematic, keep reading. We’ll discuss the effect of alcoholism on the body, and provide you information on how to stop drinking and get help if you need it.
Heart Health
Alcoholism can have a major effect on your heart health. Drinking too much alcohol can lead to high blood pressure, which can increase your risk for heart disease. Alcoholism can also cause arrhythmias, or irregular heartbeats, which can be fatal. Additionally, drinking too much alcohol can lead to cardiomyopathy, or a weakening of the heart muscle, which can also be deadly. If you are struggling with alcoholism, it is important to get help as soon as possible to protect your heart health. Alcohol withdrawal and detoxification, or simply quitting cold turkey without medical supervision, can lead to sudden death due to arrhythmia or cardiomyopathy. There are many resources available in your area if you’re struggling with addiction that can help save your life.
One resource you may want to try is AA (Alcoholics Anonymous). You can find meetings by doing an online search for AA meetings near me. In addition, there are phone numbers listed on the website where people struggling with addiction can call 24 hours a day. Lastly, there’s always N/A (National Association of Addiction Medicine) who provides plenty of options when it comes to rehab and recovery support groups.
Liver Function
Alcoholism can cause a range of liver damage, from fatty liver (the build-up of fat in the liver) to cirrhosis (scarring of the liver). Alcoholism also increases your risk for hepatitis (inflammation of the liver) and can cause alcoholic hepatitis, a serious condition that can lead to liver failure. In addition to damaging your liver, alcohol can also damage your pancreas, which can lead to pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas). The more alcohol you drink, the greater your risk for these conditions.
The Effect of Alcoholism on Your Heart: The effects of alcoholism are especially destructive to the heart. Drinking heavily can increase blood pressure and levels of bad cholesterol in your blood stream, while decreasing levels of good cholesterol. These changes may lead to arteriosclerosis (hardening or narrowing of the arteries), congestive heart failure, heart attack, or stroke.
What Happens When You Stop Drinking? Once you stop drinking, your body will begin to recover. A lot of this recovery depends on how much time has passed since you last drank and how long it took for your brain to go through withdrawal symptoms. Some people who stop drinking experience severe withdrawal symptoms like hallucinations, tremors, seizures, anxiety attacks and suicidal thoughts, while others have milder symptoms like an upset stomach and nausea.
Brain Health
Alcoholism can cause several problems for your brain. It can lead to issues with memory and learning, decision-making, and judgment. Alcoholism can also increase your risk for developing dementia. In addition, alcohol abuse can lead to changes in your mood and behaviour, which can be both short- and long-term. These changes may include becoming angry more easily, getting into fights or accidents more often, feeling sad or depressed more often, being less able to handle stressful situations well, withdrawing from friends and family more often. These changes may make it difficult for you to carry out daily activities. For example, if you drink enough alcohol to develop a severe addiction, you might not be able to hold down a job, manage your finances properly, or take care of yourself properly.
A person who is addicted to alcohol will go through cycles where they drink heavily for weeks at a time, followed by periods where they drink very little or stop drinking altogether. Over time, this person’s body becomes so used to large amounts of alcohol that withdrawal symptoms occur when he stops drinking or drinks only small amounts. Withdrawal symptoms are similar to those seen during the initial stages of alcohol withdrawal. They include intense cravings for alcohol; tremors; sweating; nausea; difficulty sleeping; increased heart rate and blood pressure; anxiety and irritability; depression (among other symptoms). The effect of alcoholism on the body can have significant consequences on an individual’s health.
Bone Health
Alcoholism can lead to bone loss and a decrease in bone density. This is because alcohol prevents the absorption of calcium and other minerals that are essential for strong bones. Additionally, alcoholics are more likely to have a vitamin D deficiency, which further contributes to bone loss. Alcoholism can also lead to an increased risk of fractures. It may take months or years for the damage to occur, but it will eventually happen. Women who drink excessively during pregnancy run a higher risk of giving birth to babies with fetal alcohol syndrome. They also increase their chance of miscarrying or having a stillborn baby. If a woman does decide to drink while pregnant, she should only do so occasionally and then only as much as she would consume if she were not pregnant.
A common misconception about alcoholism is that it always causes weight gain. That is not necessarily true. Some people actually lose weight from alcoholism due to a slowed metabolism and malnutrition from poor eating habits. Although some alcoholic beverages contain empty calories, such as beer, wine, liquor and many mixed drinks, most alcoholic beverages contain no nutrients at all. Heavy drinking can also make people more susceptible to illnesses like colds by weakening the immune system over time. Alcohol abuse damages nearly every organ in the body—liver, heart, pancreas—contributing to diseases like cancer or diabetes later in life.
Skin Health
Alcoholism can cause several skin problems. These include conditions like eczema and psoriasis, as well as acne. Alcoholism can also lead to dehydration, which can make the skin dry and cracked. In extreme cases, alcoholics may develop a condition called jaundice, which causes the skin and whites of the eyes to turn yellow. Dehydration from alcoholism can also lead to thinning hair and brittle nails. Additionally, chronic drinkers are more likely to have high blood pressure, diabetes, or an irregular heartbeat that could increase their risk for stroke or heart attack. It is important to note that these effects will vary depending on the individual and how much they drink.
However, it is crucial to understand how drinking affects your body to help yourself maintain good health in other areas of your life. The best way to do this is by speaking with a doctor about any concerns you might have. If your doctor thinks that drinking has started to influence your health, he or she may suggest seeing a counselor for addiction treatment services. If there is an issue with alcoholism, it’s never too late to get help!
Stomach health
Alcoholism can cause many stomach problems, including ulcers, gastritis, and pancreatitis. Alcohol also irritates the lining of the stomach, which can lead to inflammation and pain. In addition, alcohol increases the production of stomach acid, which can further damage the stomach lining. If you have any concerns about your stomach health, be sure to talk to your doctor. They will be able to advise you whether your symptoms are due to alcohol consumption or something else. For many people, drinking in moderation is not only possible, but also recommended for their overall health. Just remember that moderation means not drinking more than two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. It’s important to keep track of how much you’re drinking because it’s easy to consume more than one drink without realizing it.
Furthermore, some alcoholic beverages contain much higher levels of alcohol (for example, hard liquor) so be careful if you are consuming these types of drinks. One last thing to keep in mind is that when people drink excessively they may experience changes in mood and behaviour such as depression or anxiety, anger issues, marital problems with family members or friends—all kinds of things.
Conclusion
Alcoholism can have a profound effect on your health. It can lead to weight gain, organ damage, and even death. If you think you may have a problem with alcohol, it’s significant to seek help from a medical professional. With treatment, it is possible to recover from alcoholism and live a healthy life. Most importantly, remember that sobriety isn’t something that will happen overnight. The process will take time and patience. Remember this every day as you are working towards recovery. Take care of yourself by eating well, staying active, and practicing self-care. Sobriety doesn’t happen overnight, but if you want it badly enough and commit to taking care of yourself, then success will be yours!
