The Effects of Alcohol Addiction

Each person is unique, so the effects of alcohol are different for each person. Some people are able to control the amount they drink, others have a tougher time doing so. If someone is going to understand the complete effects of alcohol, they need to know what one drink is:

• 12 fl. oz. of beer (about 5% alcohol)
• 8-9 fl. oz. of malt liquor (about 7% alcohol)
• 5 fl. oz. of wine (about 12% alcohol)
• 1-1 ½ oz. 80-proof spirits (around 40% alcohol)

Many factors alter the effects of alcohol. These factors might include drugs and other substances that people use, their alcohol tolerance, their medical history, the amount of alcohol they consume, and other factors.

If you are experiencing the short- or long-term effects of alcohol, it may be the right time to find treatment. There are specialists that can help you find caring and experienced addiction treatment. Make the call today if you are experiencing the side effects of alcohol.

Alcohol Abuse on the Body

There are internal and external effects when you abuse alcohol. While you may not see the damage that is being done, there are still short-term effects of alcohol on the liver and on other organs in your body. You should not ignore any of the signs that you may be an alcoholic. At times, the side effects of drinking alcohol won’t show up until years into your drinking. This makes it tougher to reverse the effects of drinking alcohol. Each organ throughout your body can be affected by alcohol. If you want to prevent this damage, it is important to learn more about the damage that can be done and to get help to quit drinking right away.

Your Brain

The negative effects of alcohol on your brain can happen quickly. The effects of alcoholism can lead to temporary problems including coordination and memory issues. However, you may also experience long-term effects of alcohol on the brain as well. Sometimes these effects aren’t reversible. Excessive and prolonged use of alcohol might interfere with your brain functioning and with the structure of your brain. Alcohol can damage multiple areas of your brain, including the cerebral cortex, limbic system, and cerebellum. In addition, alcohol can damage the pathways in your brain. This might affect your motor skills, memory, balance, emotional responses, and more. In order to stop the side effects of alcohol on your brain, quitting drinking is the best option.

Your Heart

Side effects of alcoholism on your heart can be mild to severe as well. With time, alcohol consumption may make your heart weaker. It will not allow as many nutrients and oxygen to get to your body. In fact, increased consumption of alcohol can increase the triglycerides in your body which in turn leads to heart disease.

Heart issues caused by the side effects of drinking whisky every day, for instance, may include irregular heartbeat, cardiomyopathy, stroke, and sudden cardiac arrest leading to death. If you want to stop the effects of alcohol, call an addiction treatment center today.

Your Liver

Those who drink heavily are more likely to experience alcoholism effects. When you are drinking alcohol long-term and heavily, you are more at risk for developing life-threatening issues related to your liver.

Normally, when you consume alcohol, your liver breaks the alcohol down and filters it from your blood. When you drink a large amount of alcohol in a short amount of time, your metabolic processes are overwhelmed. This condition may cause fatty liver disease. With alcoholism, this condition may become chronic and lead to the buildup of bad fats in the liver. This buildup can contribute to liver failure or type 2 diabetes.

There are other bad effects of alcohol-related to the liver. These effects include fibrosis (scarring), cirrhosis (severe scarring), and hepatitis. These conditions are treatable. However, you will need a diagnosis, which you can receive when receiving treatment for your alcohol addiction.

Your Pancreas

When talking about drinking alcohol everyday side effects, you should be worried about your pancreas. This is a gland of your digestive system that regulates blood sugar levels. Consuming large amounts of alcohol over time may harm the functioning of your pancreas. Unfortunately, you may not be able to feel or recognize the early effects of pancreas damage. When left untreated, the damage may be irreversible. The alcohol long-term effects may lead to problems with the blood vessels that surround your pancreas. The vessels may swell and cause inflammation known as pancreatitis. Pancreatitis increases your risk of developing pancreatic cancer. If you experience diarrhea, abdominal pain, a fast heart rate, nausea, and fever, you may be experiencing acute pancreatic attack symptoms. While there are treatments to help manage pancreatitis, it is often tough to reverse it.

Alcohol Abuse Side Effects

The effects of alcohol are many and often dangerous. You may experience short- and long-term effects of alcohol on the body. There are many symptoms of drinking alcohol. People who have mild to moderate alcohol consumption may experience the following:

• Speech slurred
• Impaired vision
• Coordination issues
• Mood shifts
• Lapses in memory
• Slowed breathing

Some people have many alcoholism side effects and others have only a few. Unfortunately, the tequila side effects, vodka effects, and effects of other types of alcohol can be severe. People may be arrested for driving under the influence (DUI) or charged with a crime while they are intoxicated. Others may commit suicide or attempt to do so. Other effects of heavy drinking may include the following:

• Cardiovascular problems
• Liver disease
• Infections in the respiratory system
• Ulcers
• Damage to the nerves
• Cancer

The long-term physical effects of alcohol impact various areas of one’s life. Alcohol abuse and addiction can hurt people financially, socially, personally, and legally. There’s hope, though, because you can choose to overcome your alcohol addiction. You will probably need to undergo alcohol withdrawal at a detox center. You may experience alcohol withdrawal symptoms. Professionals at the center will talk to you about the effects of alcohol on the body and make you as comfortable as possible.

Treatment for Alcohol Abuse

You have now learned more about the side effects of alcohol. It is important to know that alcohol can derail a person’s life very quickly or slowly. There is no exact answer for how long it takes for alcoholism to develop. But, if you struggle with alcoholism, you can enter a detox program that helps you safely treat the symptoms of alcohol withdrawal. Then, you can proceed to an inpatient treatment center. There are also outpatient programs and sober living homes that you can attend as well.

Take control over your alcohol addiction today.