Alcohol Abuse Effects

Medically Reviewed By Kayla Loibl | Last Edited :October 14,
2020 | 4 Sources

Physical Effects of Alcohol
Mental Health Dangers of Alcoholism

Alcohol plays such an integral part in many lives.

In times of joy, sadness, shame, fear, and even boredom, we wheel out the drink.

Many homes even have a drink cabinet, a fancy bar in the corner, or even their own dedicated cellars.

Any excuse for a drink or two.

And yet, for so many people, this alleged elixir of life is the leading source of chaos and trouble.

If you stick within moderate drinking guidelines, then drinking alcohol can be safe, enjoyable, and even beneficial to your health.

Stray outside these guidelines, and then you are abusing alcohol......

....which means you are using it in a harmful way. Which means you’re going to struggle from the consequences.

But first let's look at the beneficial effects of alcohol.

Then we can explore alcohol abuse effects, both physical and mental.

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The Benefits of Drinking Alcohol
and
The Benefits of Drinking Red Wine

Research shows that drinking alcohol - particularly red wine - can be healthy when done in moderation. It can promote heart health, blood circulation, and it can also relieve tension. Additionally, red wine contains resveratrol which is a non-flavonoid that prevents arteries from getting blocked.

Of course, this is not a green light to drink as much as you can.

To reap the health benefits from alcohol, you need to stay within safe limits.

Alcohol is good for your heart, blood circulation and relieves tension.

Of course, you need to stay within the safe drinking guidelines to get these benefits, and drinking outside of these limits negates the health effects.

Click on the links below to discover some of the effects excessive alcohol consumption can have on an individual's life.

Alcohol Abuse:
Alcoholic Gastritis

Gastritis is one of the most common health concerns associated with alcoholism.

Gastritis is inflammation of the stomach lining which can produce various symptoms, the most common being pain in the abdomen.

Alcohol irritates the stomach lining causing the pain.

If left untreated, alcoholic gastritis can become chronic.

For more, read alcoholic gastritis.

Alcohol Abuse Effects:
Alcohol Brain Damage

The relationship between alcohol and dementia is complex, and that’s due to the sensitive nature of dementia and the difficulty of obtaining accurate, objective data.

Yet, it has been long established that alcoholics are at greater risk of dementia symptoms than those who drink safely or not at all.

It is estimated that 4-20% of dementia cases are brought about by alcohol abuse.

For more on the damage alcohol does to the brain, read Alcohol Brain Damage.

Alcohol Abuse Effects:
Self-Help: Stop Drinking

How To Give Up Alcohol is an ebook that provides the tools and resources for those wishing to do something about their drinking without the restraints imposed by Alcoholics Anonymous.

Do you want to do something about your alcohol consumption? Have you tried AA and found it not to your liking? If so, then here is an alternative way. Take a look at this and take action today.

Alcohol Abuse Effects:
Wet Brain

Wet brain syndrome (also known as Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome) is a type of brain damage and a severe form of alcoholic dementia. It’s a severe form of thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency. Wet brain can cause severe confusion, memory issues, loss of mental activity, and loss of muscle coordination.

If it is caught early enough, then the effects can be reversed.

If left to run its dangerous course, it will kill.

For more, read Wet Brain.

Alcohol Abuse Effects:
Alcoholism and Hair Loss

It is widely known that over-consumption of alcohol can be detrimental to one’s health. That said, there are even smaller and lesser-known side effects to consider.

It is not, for example, commonly known that alcohol, and more specifically alcoholism, can cause hair loss.

Read Alcoholism and Hair Loss for more.

Alcohol Abuse Effects:
Calories in Alcohol

Alcohol does not cause you to gain weight.

At least not directly.

This doesn't mean you can drink to your heart's content and remain a lean, fighting machine.

Want to know why?

It's because of the calories in alcohol and how your body metabolizes them.

Alcohol Abuse:
Alcohol Calorie Chart

The calories in your favorite drink might surprise you. If you’re drinking multiple drinks a night, it’s easy to pack on the pounds without realizing it. Want to know how many calories there are in a specific alcohol drink? Want to lose weight and only drink the lowest calorie alcohol?

Take a look at Alcohol Calorie Chart for a comprehensive list of drinks and their caloric content.

Alcohol Abuse:
Alcohol Poisoning Symptoms

Unfortunately, alcohol poisoning is not uncommon.

Research from the CDC shows there are approximately 2,200 alcohol poisoning deaths each year. That’s six people a day.

Learn how to spot the symptoms of alcohol poisoning.

Alcohol Abuse:
Treatment for Alcohol Poisoning

Treatment for alcohol poisoning doesn't begin at the hospital, but with those around the sufferer.

Delivering prompt treatment can mean the difference between life and death.

Read treatment for alcohol poisoning for more.

Alcohol Abuse Effects:
Anxiety and Alcohol

Many people drink to relieve their anxiety and stress, and reaching for the bottle to alleviate uncomfortable feelings and emotions is not uncommon.

Generally, it is not a problem from time to time.

Yet, if it becomes a habit, it can become a major problem.

Read Anxiety and Alcohol for more.

Alcohol Abuse:
Alcoholic Blackouts

When I was drinking, I would pretend to find it funny when my drinking buddies recounted stories of my drunken antics. I would join them as they poked fun.

Deep down, however, I was worried because I couldn't remember any of it.

For more on the types and dangers go to alcoholic blackouts.

Alcohol Abuse Effects:
Alcoholic Cirrhosis

Alcoholic cirrhosis is a terrible disease that can occur after years of heavy drinking.

The susceptibility of individuals to alcohol-induced cirrhosis varies from person to person, and medical professionals are still examining why this is the case.

For more on symptoms and treatment go to Alcoholic Cirrhosis.

Alcohol Abuse and Your Health:
Effects of Alcohol

Alcohol is a double-edged sword. Used socially it is of great benefit. If abused, it can turn on you and destroy your life.

Explore the disadvantages and advantages of alcohol usage and its long and short term effects on our bodies by reading Affects of Alcohol. You can also follow this link to learn about the physiological effects of alcoholism.

Alcohol Abuse Effects:
Alcoholic Hepatitis

Alcoholic hepatitis is a life-threatening condition associated with liver inflammation. Liver tissue may start to die, caused by the excessive and prolonged consumption of alcohol.

As with alcoholic cirrhosis (which it can occur concurrently with), alcohol-induced hepatitis is potentially fatal.

For symptoms, causes and treatment read alcoholic hepatitis.

Alcohol Abuse Effects:
Alcoholic Liver Disease

Alcoholic liver disease can refer to a number of conditions (two - alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis - are listed above).

Find out more on the effects of alcohol on the liver by reading alcoholic liver disease.

Alcohol Abuse:
Alcohol and Weight Gain

Overconsumption of alcohol contributes to weight gain because of the excess calories drink provides.

Our bodies tend to store fats around our belly area, and if those extra calories are not used up, then it accumulates there. This accounts for the infamous ‘beer belly’ so many men have.

For more on alcohol, its effect on our weight and tips to minimize weight gain, read alcohol and weight gain.

Alcohol Abuse:
Alcoholism Statistics

Alcoholism statistics provide an insight into the costs and damages of alcoholism.

If you want to learn about alcoholism, there is nothing like some real numbers to demonstrate the severity of the problem and how it actually affects its victims and the whole of society.

Read alcoholism statistics for more figures on the effects of alcoholism on society.

Alcohol Abuse:
Alcohol Driving

We all know that Alcohol and driving is a deadly mix.

This fact, established by epidemiological data together with many controlled studies of alcohol and driving skills, is well-known and generally accepted.

According to the National Institutes of Health: Alcohol is involved in 40% of traffic deaths.

For more on this and blood alcohol levels, read alcohol and driving.

Alcohol Abuse Effects:
Alcohol Withdrawal Symptoms

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms occur when someone reduces or stops alcohol consumption after prolonged periods of excessive alcohol intake.

Alcohol withdrawal is distinguishable by symptoms that might occur when an individual who has been consuming too much alcohol regularly suddenly stops drinking alcohol.

It is essential to learn about alcohol withdrawal symptoms as, if ignored, they can result in death.

For more read alcohol withdrawal symptoms.

Alcohol Abuse:
Consequences of Drunk Driving

In the United States, drunk driving kills one person every 39 minutes and injures a person every 2 minutes.

You'd think statistics like these would be enough to discourage anyone from getting behind the wheel of a car after drinking. But that just isn’t the case.

For more on the legal consequences of DUI and the personal effects of drunk driving, read Consequences of Drunk Driving.

Alcohol Abuse:
Effects of Alcoholism

There are more than physical effects of alcoholism. Every aspect of the alcohol dependent's life is affected by his or her drinking.

These effects of alcoholism range from sleeping disorders to marriage problems to debt to enormous amounts of guilt and shame.

The excessive use of alcohol can likewise result in harm to other people, like family, friends, colleagues and strangers. Furthermore, excessive alcohol consumption could lead to a significant health, economic, and social burden on the society.

For more on alcoholism's effects on the family, marriage and work read effects of alcoholism.

Alcohol Abuse:
Alcoholism and Mental Illness

Which comes first - alcoholism or mental health conditions like depression or anxiety? It’s an impossible question to answer, and even researchers aren’t entirely sure.

It is a common assumption that there is a link between mental illness and alcohol, but it is difficult to prove. That’s because many of the symptoms look alike, and some symptoms can exacerbate each other. Nonetheless, a study has shown that drinking excessive amounts of alcohol over a prolonged period of time could decrease brain volume.

Read alcoholism and depression for more on the causative relationship between depression and alcoholism.

Alcohol Abuse:
Alcohol and Cholesterol

Investigations into the association between alcohol and cholesterol levels have revealed surprising, if ambiguous results.

Read Alcohol and Cholesterol and discover how trials on the relationship between alcohol and cholesterol revealed an important effect on the participants' HDL levels.

Lead Writer/Reviewer : Kayla Loibl

Licensed Medical Health Professional

Hello!

I am a Mental Health Counselor who is licensed in both New York (LMHC) and North Carolina (LCMHC). I have been working in the Mental Health field since 2015. I have worked in a residential setting, an outpatient program and an inpatient addictions program. I began working in Long Island, NY and then in Guelph, Ontario after moving to Canada. Read More

Sources:

Harvard Health Publishing. Alcohol Abuse. December 2014. https://www.health.harvard.edu/addiction/alcohol-abuse

World Health Organization. Alcohol. September 21, 2018. https://www.who.int/news-room/fact-sheets/detail/alcohol

American Academy of Neurology. Drinking Heavy Amounts of Alcohol Shrinks Your Brain. May 2, 2007. https://www.aan.com/PressRoom/Home/PressRelease/475

U.S. National Library of Medicine. Alcohol Withdrawal. January 10, 2019. https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000764.htm

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