What are the Alcohol Abuse Effects on the Body?

Alcohol plays such an integral part in many lives, but is it worth the alcohol abuse effects that excessive drinking can bring? 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.

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 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.

Now is the Time to Stop Alcohol Abuse

It’s not yet too late to put a stop to alcohol abuse, and enjoy a healthier life with your loved ones.  Reach out to a treatment provider to help you with effective alcohol treatment programs that can help you with your journey to sobriety.