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The Effects of Alcohol

Psychologists who are trained and experienced in treating alcohol problems can be helpful in many ways. Before the drinker seeks assistance, a psychologist can guide the family or others in helping to increase the drinker’s motivation to change. Individuals often hide their drinking or deny they have a problem. Although severe alcohol problems get the most public attention, even mild to moderate problems cause substantial damage to individuals, their families and the community. The NHS also recommends to wait for a couple of hours before breastfeeding or express the milk into a bottle before drinking.

What are the main consequences of drinking alcohol?

High blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, liver disease, and digestive problems. Cancer of the breast, mouth, throat, esophagus, voice box, liver, colon, and rectum. Weakening of the immune system, increasing the chances of getting sick. Learning and memory problems, including dementia and poor school performance.

Chronic drinkers will often develop type one or two diabetes because ethanol reduces the body’s ability to produce the insulin necessary for controlling blood sugar levels. Alcohol addiction affects millions of people worldwide, causing them to lose control over their drinking habits. Alcohol addiction is characterized by continued use of Alcohol despite the harmful effects on a person’s life. This often leads to physical dependence, which means that once someone stops consuming Alcohol altogether after years of regular use, their body goes into shock initially. Because of these reasons, most treatment clinics usually advise users not to quit cold turkey but instead undergo medical detoxification procedures. Heavy alcohol consumption can lead to the development of heart conditions.

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Societal factors include level of economic development, culture, social norms, availability of alcohol, and implementation and enforcement of alcohol policies. Adverse health impacts and social harm from a given level and pattern of drinking are greater for poorer societies. While every organ in your body can feel the effects from drinking, some are more at risk for extensive damage. The best way to prevent health issues now and in the future is to quit drinking with the help of a professional treatment program.

Finding this purpose can motivate clients to get healthy for all the right reasons. Overcoming a substance use disorder consequences of alcohol is hard, but you don’t have to struggle alone. Find supportive, evidence-based treatment at Gateway Foundation.

Alcohol Abuse Treatment

Short-term effects of alcohol consumption include intoxication and dehydration. Long-term effects of alcohol include changes in the metabolism of the liver and brain, several types of cancer and alcohol use disorder. Alcohol intoxication affects the brain, causing slurred speech, clumsiness, and delayed reflexes. Alcohol consumption can cause hypoglycemia in diabetics on certain medications, such as insulin or sulfonylurea, by blocking gluconeogenesis. There is an increased risk of developing an alcohol use disorder for teenagers while their brain is still developing. Adolescents who drink have a higher probability of injury including death.

Esophageal cancer, particularly esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. In addition, people who inherit a deficiency in an enzyme that metabolizes alcohol have been found to have substantially increased risks of esophageal squamous cell carcinoma if they consume alcohol. A medical detox program that is designed for individuals suffering from alcohol addiction. This can be completed in an outpatient or residential setting, depending on the severity of one’s condition. Chronic ethanol abuse can also cause pancreatitis, which is an inflammation of the pancreas, often resulting in severe damage to this vital organ.

Short-term effects

This lack of ability often leads to emotional issues since individuals who could not hold on to a job or maintain relationships with friends and family for years on end become depressed. Continuing to drink even when you know it has caused or contributed to an ongoing physical or mental health issue. How quickly alcohol is absorbed depends on how quickly the stomach empties its contents into the intestines. If you eat a meal, especially one containing fat, before drinking, alcohol absorption will be considerably slower than drinking on an empty stomach and your blood alcohol level will be lower.

  • Some of the early cardiovascular effects, like high blood pressure and an irregular heartbeat, can lead to a host of problems down the road.
  • While some people may be able to limit their drinking, others have a difficult time controlling their alcohol consumption.
  • This condition occurs when an abundance of toxins from the alcohol breakdown process starts to harm the cells of the pancreas.
  • It can, however, be stopped with medical treatment and complications can be managed if the individual stops drinking, and many do survive.
  • Women tend to be more vulnerable than men to the effects of alcohol due to differences in how their bodies absorb and metabolize alcohol.
  • In this article, we discuss some potential health effects that may occur due to heavy drinking.