Health Risks of Alcohol

Drinking alcohol is not necessarily a bad practice. Drinking alcohol chronically and excessively is extremely unhealthy. Almost all forms of excessive drinking causes some form of long or short term health risk.

Short Term Health Risks

There are many short term health risks associated with drinking alcohol. According to the Centers for Disease Control, these risks are:

• risk taking behaviors such as:
  • high risk sex
  • drinking and driving
  • unprotected sex
  • sexual assault due to incapacitation (assailant)
• violence including:
  • physical fighting
  • accidental or intentional homicide
  • domestic violence
  • sexual assault (victim)
• alcohol poisoning leading to:
  

  Alcohol poisoning can lead to hospitalization.

  • hospitalization
  • aspiration of vomit
  • delirium tremens
  • choking
• injuries including:
  • slip and falls
  • drowning
  • burns
  • self injury or mutilation
• somatic symptoms including:
  • nausea
  • vomiting
  • diarrhea
  • headache

All of these risks can being after taking only a few drinks. If your drinking has lead to any of these things perhaps it is time to seek treatment. To find the treatment that you need call 800-481-6965 (Who Answers?) .

Long Term Health Risks

The long term health risks of excessive alcohol consumption are far more severe than many people realize. Alcohol can effect almost every body system. According to the National Library of Medicine and the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, some of the long term risks include:

• severe liver disease requiring replacement
• bleeding of the gastrointestinal tract
• pancreatitis a dangerous swelling of the pancreas
• liver cancer
• esophageal cancer
• colon cancer
• seizures
• gout
• chronic rapid heart rate and arrhythmia
• permanent nerve damage
• chronic high blood pressure
• immune system disorders
• anemia

There are many more health risks depending on the amount of alcohol and how often you drink. Much of the damage to your body is determined by gender, bodyweight, and how you drink. Binge drinking and benders are particularly dangerous in the short term while chronic excessive drinking is more dangerous in the long term.

Alcohol and Health: What You Should Know

Psychological Risks

There are also risks to your mental health associated with alcohol consumption. Some of these risks are:

• alcohol induced dementia
• alcohol induced psychosis
• depression
• anxiety
• bi-polar disorder
• poor performance at school or work
• alcohol related stress
• memory and learning disorders
• shrinking of the prefrontal cortex
• severe addiction or dependence on alcohol

Many people suffer from the psychological effects of alcoholism in both the short term and long term. Most people who start to suffer from these effects begin to feel the stress almost immediately.

Finding Treatment for Alcohol Abuse

Seeking treatment early for alcoholism is extremely important. To avoid both the short and long term effects of alcohol use all you have to is find treatment. There are a variety of treatment methods for alcoholism. Some of these methods are:

• inpatient treatment
• outpatient treatment
• counseling
• combined treatment
• 12 step programs

To find the treatment that works the best for you call 800-481-6965 (Who Answers?) . We can help you evaluate your treatment options and find the treatment you need to get off alcohol for good.