Long-Term Health Consequences of Alcohol We Must Know

By Barbara Odozi

Alex was a man his family admired and friends envied. He had a great job, loving family, extensive social circle and investments here and there. Unfortunately, he was also heavily into drinking. But his habits rarely bothered anyone as he was a star performer at work. At home too, he devoted time and rarely got disoriented until one day when he was pronounced dead due to stroke.

Long-term alcohol consumption is associated with a host of adverse health outcomes like:

Brain disruptions - Even occasional drinking can disturb the balance of neurotransmitters in the brain, causing delay in transmitting the signals due to which one may feel drowsy. Alcohol might also prompt behavioral and mood changes in the form of agitation, depression and cognitive decline. Heavy drinking might lead to the shrinkage of brain tissue, leading to disturbances in temperature regulation, motor coordination, sleep cycle and cognitive functions. Alcohol consumption also causes the release of another neurotransmitter, serotonin, which regulates endorphins and produces euphoria. The brain compensates for these changes by bringing some alterations which might produce negative effects like alcohol tolerance, dependence and withdrawal symptoms.

Cardiac problems - Recurrent drinking weakens the heart muscles (cardiomyopathy). As a result, sufficient blood might not be pumped into various organs which might lead to organ failure. Cardiomyopathy results in shortness of breath and irregular heartbeat and can even cause heart failure. In addition, excessive alcohol consumption causes the heart to release certain chemicals that constrict the blood vessels and raise blood pressure. Both long-term and binge drinking might lead to stroke in people without coronary heart disease.

Liver-related problems - Excessive alcohol consumption, even for a few days, causes fat accumulation in the liver. The condition is known as steatosis or fatty liver. This is the most common alcohol-induced liver disorder. This paves the way for an inflammatory disorder known as alcoholic hepatitis. For some people, alcoholic steatosis may be asymptomatic, while in others it may produce symptoms like fever, nausea, loss of appetite and abdominal pain. These symptoms may get aggravated by liver enlargement, jaundice, bleeding and clotting complications. In addition, alcohol can also cause scarring of the liver known as fibrosis. Fibrosis worsens to a condition called as cirrhosis that prevents the liver from performing important functions like nutrient absorption, scavenging harmful substances from the blood and managing infections. This might lead to insulin resistance, type 2 diabetes, jaundice and even liver cancer.

Cancer risk - Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with an increased propensity for developing cancer of mouth, esophagus, pharynx, larynx, breast and liver. People who drink and smoke are more susceptible to developing cancer than people who don't. Alcohol breakdown in the body produces a chemical known as acetaldehyde which is toxic in nature. Acetaldehyde disrupts the genetic material of the cells, causing their rapid growth. Cancer can then manifest easily in such impaired cells. Alcohol can also increase the amount of estrogen in the body which might increase susceptibility to breast cancer.

Recovery from alcoholism

Alcohol consumption can disrupt the pancreas and its functions. It can also impair the immune system and make the body vulnerable to a host of health problems. In addition to psychological and physical damage, it can heighten the risk of drunk driving, violence, unsafe sexual practice and accidents. It is important that one seeks professional help before it is too late.

If your loved one is battling alcohol addiction, seek professional help. Contact the Florida Alcohol Addiction Helpline at 24/7 helpline 866-220-5381 for information on the finest alcohol rehab center in Florida offering treatment in a safe and compassionate environment.