Your liver is responsible for clearing your body of toxins. Alcohol also affects parts of the brain related to mood, speech and more.
Eventually, chronic alcoholism can affect the cerebellum, the part of the brain that controls movement and coordination. It then travels to your central nervous system and brain.
When you drink alcohol, it enters your bloodstream directly from the stomach and small intestine. Long-term alcohol abuse can lead to many problems, including liver damage, hypertension, heart disease, depression and even dementia. How Does Drinking Affect Your Health?Īlcohol is a drug that affects every part of your body. Regardless of your family history, genetics or social status, if you are having a problem controlling your drinking, or if you think your drinking is controlling you, it’s time to seek help. Some people have underlying depression or anxiety that when treated, helps them heal from alcohol abuse as well.Įven though researchers know a lot about alcoholism, there are still many unanswered questions about this disease. Social anxiety often leads people to overindulge at parties, for example, which can then turn into a drinking habit. Some people begin drinking to soothe anxious feelings. But over time, this can lead to dependence.Īdditional risk factors for developing alcohol or drug problems include anxiety and depression. If everyone in your social circles drinks heavily, you may take up the habit simply to fit in. The National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence states that genetics makes up about 50 percent of an individual’s risk of alcoholism.įamily and social circumstances also increase your risk of becoming dependent on alcohol. However, you may have an increased risk of becoming addicted to alcohol if someone in your family is addicted to drugs or alcohol. Alcohol addiction doesn’t discriminate by gender, race or economic status. Who Is at Risk for Alcohol Problems?Īnyone can be at risk for alcohol problems. They may need a drink in the morning to keep away shakiness or queasiness. Alcoholics find their cravings for alcohol are so strong that they can’t resist or moderate their drinking even when it becomes a problem. Problems at work, home or school due to drinkingĪlcoholism or alcohol dependence is when problem drinking or alcohol abuse becomes chronic.Dangerous drinking situations, such as drinking and driving or operating heavy machinery.Heavy drinking and alcohol abuse can lead to: The more they drink, however, the more problems they have. People who abuse alcohol find that even heavy drinking isn’t enough. Alcohol abuse often begins when heavy drinking turns into problem drinking. Using the standard levels listed above, heavy drinking is defined by the CDC as 8 or more drinks for women per week, or 12 or more for men per week. The amount of alcohol in a serving defines its effects, with higher proof alcoholic beverages producing stronger effects without having to drink the same amount. Wine does provide some antioxidants, but you can obtain similar health benefits from grape juice or cranberry juice. Generally speaking, a standard drink under this definition is 12 ounces of beer, 8 ounces of malt liquor, 5 ounces of wine, or a 1.5 ounce shot of hard liquor.Īlthough some people think that wine or beer is safer than hard liquor, your body doesn’t care where it gets alcohol from. The Center for Disease Control defines “moderate” drinking as one glass of beer, wine or hard liquor per day for women, and two for men. Size, weight, age and genetics all make it difficult to pinpoint an exact amount that leads to dependence. The line between social drinking and alcohol abuse is often blurred, especially because alcohol affects individuals differently. Alcohol is the third-leading “lifestyle” cause of death, meaning it’s a preventable disease attributed to lifestyle choices, rather than accidents, genetic or environmental factors. According to the National Council on Drug and Alcohol Dependence, one in 12 people are addicted to alcohol, which is about 17.6 million people. Alcohol dependence is one of the most common addictions. At Synergy Recovery Services, we see many clients and patients who are alcohol dependent.
0 kommentar(er)
