Effects of Alcohol

Alcohol is one of the most widely abused substances in the world. According to the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence (NCADD), 17.6 million Americans, or one out of every 12 individuals, suffer from alcohol abuse or dependence, and several million more participate in risky binge drinking behaviors that could develop into alcohol use disorder.

Alcohol’s short-term effects include impaired judgment and motor coordination, memory issues, and a general decline in mental acuity. Long-term abuse can result in significant physical and mental health problems, such as an increased risk of cancer, liver disease, and a wide range of psychiatric disorders. Excessive alcohol consumption is a harmful and destructive habit that can negatively affect a person’s health and quality of life.

What Happens When You Drink?

Alcohol is absorbed rather than digested. It swiftly enters the bloodstream and travels throughout the entire body. Alcohol initially affects the brain, then the kidneys, lungs, and liver. The effects of alcohol on your body depend on your age, gender, weight, and the amounts of alcohol consumed.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), alcohol disrupts the brain’s communication channels and can alter how the brain appears and functions. Alcohol affects the brain areas responsible for balance, memory, speech, and judgment, increasing the probability of accidents and other adverse effects. Prolonged excessive drinking can also alter the neurons, causing them to shrink in size.

As a depressant, alcohol slows down the body’s central nervous system. It’s responsible for impairing the production of the main excitatory neurotransmitter, glutamate. Such disruptions in the brain may lead to a wide range of side effects. In extreme circumstances, this disruption of glutamate production may result in delirium tremens (DTs), a severe form of alcohol withdrawal marked by altered mental status and sympathetic hyperactivity.

Adolescent brains are more vulnerable to the damaging effects of alcohol than adult brains. Adolescent alcohol abuse can impair brain development and result in abnormal brain structure and function.

What Is Moderate Drinking?

There are numerous short-term and long-term health effects of alcohol consumption. The more alcohol you consume and the longer you drink, the higher your risk becomes. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that adults of legal drinking age either abstain from alcohol altogether or drink in moderation, with no more than two drinks per day for men and no more than one drink per day for women. A standard drink in the United States contains 0.6 ounces (14.0 grams or 1.2 tablespoons) of pure alcohol. You can limit the risk of injury to yourself or others by following the CDC’s dietary guidelines.

What Is Excessive Drinking?

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention defines excessive drinking as any form of heavy drinking or binge drinking behavior. Heavy alcohol consumption is defined as drinking eight or more drinks per week (for women) and 15 or more drinks per week (for men). Binge drinking is defined as consuming five or more drinks for men or four or more drinks for women in less than two hours. 

Any quantity of alcohol intake poses a risk, but binge drinking can amplify the negative effects of alcohol and cause acute harm. For example, research suggests that even one binge drinking episode can impair immune system function, making it easier to fall ill and more difficult to recover from illnesses. The consequences of binge drinking worsen with each subsequent incident.

Heavy drinkers are also more likely to develop alcohol tolerance, dependence, and other health concerns. These health concerns can range from mild short-term symptoms to more serious long-term complications.

Short-Term Effects of Alcohol

Temporary effects you may experience when drinking alcohol or shortly after include the following:

• Drowsiness
• Dizziness
• Mood swings
• Nausea or vomiting
• Headaches
• Diarrhea
• Abdominal pain
• Irregular heartbeat
• Distorted vision and hearing
• Increased agitation and aggression
• Lowered inhibitions
• Slowed or slurred speech
• Loss of coordination
• Impulsive behavior
• Memory loss (alcohol-induced blackouts)
• Impaired judgment

Although these effects are temporary, they should not be disregarded. Heavy drinkers are likely to cause harm to themselves or others around them. 

Excessive alcohol consumption has immediate repercussions that heighten the likelihood of life-threatening injuries, including:

• Accidental injuries from car accidents, falling from stairways, drowning, and burns.
• Violence, such as homicide, suicide, sexual assault, and intimate partner violence.
• Heightened risk of alcohol poisoning (also known as alcohol intoxication, is a medical emergency caused by high blood alcohol levels).
• Risky sexual behavior (leading to unplanned pregnancies and sexually transmitted diseases)
• Miscarriage, stillbirth, or fetal alcohol syndrome in pregnant women.

Long-Term Effects of Alcohol

Drinking excessively, whether on a single occasion or over time, can have severe consequences for your health. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), approximately 95,000 individuals die from alcohol-related causes each year (about 68,000 men and 27,000 women), making alcohol the third-leading preventable cause of death in the United States. The long-term effects of alcohol remain true even for moderate drinkers.  

Prolonged heavy alcohol consumption can result in the development of chronic diseases and other major issues, such as:

• Alcoholic liver diseases (fatty liver, liver damage)
• High Blood Pressure
• Metabolic Syndrome
• Damage to the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy)
• Cardiovascular diseases (such as heart failure or heart disease)
• Risk of stroke (such as ischemic stroke, hemorrhagic stroke)
• Permanent brain damage
• Pancreatitis
• Infertility
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Malnutrition
• Weakening of the immune system
• Alcohol-associated cancer (liver cancer, breast cancer, bowel cancer, pancreatic cancers, mouth cancer, throat cancer, pharyngeal cancer, and oropharyngeal cancer)
• Musculoskeletal disorders (such as alcoholic myopathy and rhabdomyolysis)
• Nerve damage
• Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome
• Learning and memory difficulties, such as dementia and poor academic performance
• Mental health disorders, including depression and anxiety
• Alcohol tolerance
• Alcohol dependence or alcohol use disorder

Chronic alcohol misuse can also cause problems at work, home, and school. Financial issues may occur, particularly if a person is unable to work due to the effects of alcohol.

What Is an Alcohol Overdose?

When there is a huge amount of alcohol in the bloodstream, the areas in the brain controlling basic functions, such as breathing, temperature control, and heart rate, begin to shut down. This condition is known as alcohol overdose. It is one of the many potential effects of alcohol abuse. An overdose can cause irreversible brain damage or even death if left untreated.

Symptoms of an alcohol overdose include the following:

• Mental confusion
• Clammy skin
• Vomiting
• Slow heart rate 
• Irregular breathing
• Seizure
• Low body temperature 
• Trouble staying conscious
• Absence of normal reflexes (like the gag reflex)

Alcohol overdose is a medical emergency that requires immediate medical attention. Do not leave the individual unattended until medical help arrives.

What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic relapsing medical condition in which a person is physically and psychologically dependent upon alcohol. Individuals suffering from AUD have difficulties controlling their desire to drink despite the negative impact of alcohol consumption. AUD is one of the long-term effects of alcohol abuse.

The risk of developing alcohol use disorder may increase due to factors such as:

• Drinking at an early age. 
• Gender (females have a higher risk of developing AUD than males)
• Binge drinking for a prolonged period.
• Suffering from mental health conditions or a history of trauma.
• Genetics and a family history of alcoholism

Alcohol Addiction Treatment

Treatment for alcohol dependence begins with a medically assisted detox program because it can be extremely dangerous to quit alcohol abruptly. A medically assisted detoxification program may adhere to either an inpatient or outpatient treatment model. However, regardless of the severity of the symptoms, inpatient care should be considered for most patients, as it can facilitate alcohol withdrawal safely and comfortably.

Individuals with alcohol dependence must continue to get personalized treatment in an inpatient or outpatient facility after undergoing an alcohol detoxification program. These facilities provide comprehensive individual and group counseling, evidence-based behavioral therapies, and aftercare programs. These programs target the underlying issues that contribute to your physical dependence, reducing the likelihood of relapse.

If you or someone you care about is experiencing alcohol dependence or addiction, Futures Recovery Healthcare is here to help. We are specialized in medical care for adults with alcohol use disorder, addiction, and co-occurring mental health disorders. Futures offer various addiction and individualized treatment options and wellness programs, including inpatient detox, residential treatment with specialized treatment tracks, and outpatient management services.

Effects of Alcohol

Alcohol is one of the most widely consumed substances in the world, with millions of people drinking it on a daily basis all across the globe. The consumption of alcohol can have a wide-ranging effect on one’s health and well-being, even when consumed in moderation. Social acceptance and legality have perpetuated an unhealthy relationship with alcohol in our society for many years. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH), 85.6 percent of people aged 18 and above have consumed alcoholic beverages at some point during their lives.

The effects of alcohol on the body start the moment you have your first sip. Although a glass of wine at dinner isn’t a cause for concern, the harmful effects of drinking over a prolonged period can adversely affect an individual’s overall physical and psychological health. The effects of alcohol can vary from one person to another, depending on several factors. However, the long-term risks remain the same.

Even though most people are aware of the risks associated with excessive alcohol consumption, not everyone is aware of how to differentiate between moderate drinking and heavy drinking.

Defining Drinking Habits

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), One “standard” drink in the United States contains approximately 14 grams of pure alcohol. Other alcoholic beverages include:

• 12 ounces of standard beer contains an alcohol content of five percent.
• Five ounces of wine contains an alcohol content of 12 percent.
• 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits contains approximately 40 percent of alcohol.

To limit the risks of drinking, the Dietary Guidelines for Americans recommends that adults of legal drinking age drink in moderation by limiting intake to two drinks or less a day for men and one drink or less a day for women.

Excessive drinking habits such as binge drinking or heavy drinking increase the risk of adverse effects. Binge drinking is the most common, costly, and deadly form of excessive drinking in the United States. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), binge drinking is defined as consuming: 

• Four or more drinks within two hours for women. 
• Five or more drinks within two hours for men. 

Heavy drinking is defined as consuming: 

• Eight or more drinks per week for women. 
• 15 or more drinks per week for men. 

While not all heavy drinkers suffer from an alcohol use disorder (AUD), it significantly increases their risk factor over time. Excessive drinking cost the United States $249 billion in 2010. These costs resulted from loss of productivity, health care expenditures, criminal justice costs, and other expenses.

Blood Alcohol Content and Effects

Although there is no widely accepted definition for what constitutes “safe” drinking, the metric used to measure alcohol in the body helps determine moderate drinking habits from excessive drinking habits based on the wide range of symptoms experienced. 

Blood Alcohol Content (BAC) refers to blood alcohol concentration in an individual’s body. A person’s BAC level is not only affected by how much they drink but also by other factors such as:

• Body Weight 
• Gender
• Mixers used in the drink
• Amount of time in which drinks are consumed
• Water composition
• Enzyme production and levels
• Medications consumed before or during the time of drinking
• Food in the stomach 

The intensity and severity of side effects depend on a person’s BAC level. Lower BAC is associated with temporary effects that subside after a few hours. And higher BAC levels can cause severe and, in some instances, fatal conditions. 

Here’s a breakdown of various BAC levels and their associated effects: 

BAC of 0.033 to 0.12 percent:

• Decreased anxiety 
• Flushing of the face 
• Improvement in mood 
• Higher self-confidence 
• Impairment of judgment 
• Shorter attention span 
• Lack of fine motor coordination 

BAC of 0.09 to 0.25 percent: 

• Delayed reaction times
• Difficulty balancing and ataxia 
• Sedation 
• Loss of memory and lack of comprehension 
• Blurred vision and sensation impairment 

BAC of 0.25 to 0.40 percent: 

• Blackouts 
• Staggering gait 
• In and out of consciousness or complete unconsciousness 
• Incontinence of urination 
• Slowed heart rate 
• Aspirating vomit 
• Respiratory depression 

BAC of 0.35 to 0.80 percent: 

• Life-threatening respiratory depression 
• Severe decrease in heart rate 
• Lack of pupillary response to light 
• Comatose 
• Death 

Short-Term Effects of Alcohol 

Even if an individual does not regularly drink, they can still experience its short-term effects on the body and mind. The liver metabolizes one standard drink an hour. And drinking more will typically result in intoxication. 

The short-term effects of drinking can range from mild symptoms like skin flushing to severe symptoms such as blackouts or vomiting. Other short-term effects include: 

• Dulled perception
• Mood swings 
• Reduced core body temperature 
• Loss of coordination 
• Loss of critical judgment 
• Raised blood pressure 
• Lowered inhibitions
• Trouble concentrating 
• Irregular heartbeat

Other Risks of Excessive Drinking

Excessive alcohol consumption has immediate consequences that raise the risk of a variety of complications. The following are some of the most common risks of excessive drinking:

• Injuries, such as motor vehicle crashes, falls, drownings, and burns.
• Violence, including homicide, suicide, sexual assault, and domestic violence.
• Alcohol poisoning.
• Risky sexual behaviors, including unprotected sex, unintended pregnancy, or sexually transmitted diseases.
• Miscarriage, stillbirth, or fetal alcohol syndrome. 

Long-Term Physical Health Effects of Alcohol 

Long-term consumption of alcohol contributes to over 200 diseases and around 88,000 deaths in the U.S each year. Heavy drinking over a prolonged period can lead to alcohol dependence, tolerance, and AUD. It can also cause a wide range of physical and psychological health complications that can sometimes be irreversible. The long term effects of chronic alcohol consumption include:

• Alcoholic liver disease (alcoholic hepatitis, fatty liver, or liver damage)
• Pancreatitis
• Cardiomyopathy or damage to the heart muscle
• Heart attacks and other cardiovascular diseases
• Peripheral neuropathy
• Stomach ulcers
• Malnutrition
• Vitamin deficiencies
• Cancer (throat, breast, mouth, larynx, liver, colorectal, or esophageal cancer) 
• Immune system dysfunction
• Osteoporosis
• Brain and nerve damage
• Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome

Alcohol’s Effect on the Brain

If difficulty walking, blurred vision, slurred speech, slowed response times, and impaired memory is anything to go by, drinking clearly affects the brain. Any of these impairments can be detected after one or two drinks and gradually disappear once drinking stops. An individual who drinks excessively over a long period of time, on the other hand, can develop brain deficits that last long after achieving sobriety. The exact effects of alcohol on the brain and the possibility of reversing the effects of heavy drinking on the brain are still key issues of alcohol studies today.

What is clear is that heavy drinking can have a wide range of effects on the brain, ranging from minor memory lapses to chronic and debilitating disorders requiring lifelong treatment. And, as comprehensive studies on drinking and driving have shown, even mild drinking causes short-term impairment.

The manner and degree to which drinking affects the brain are influenced by a variety of factors, including:

• How much and how often a person drinks.
• The age at which they first began drinking and how long they have been drinking.
• The person’s age, level of education, gender, genetic background, and family history of AUD.
• Prenatal exposure.
• General health status.

Long-Term Psychological Effects of Alcohol 

The brain depends on a delicate chemical equilibrium to perform its functions. Alcohol is a CNS depressant, which disrupts this balance and affects our behaviors, emotions, feelings, and long-term mental well-being. Prolonged drinking can hinder the natural production of chemicals in the brain and cause it to depend on the effects of alcohol instead.

Studies indicate a close association between mental health disorders and AUD. Individuals with mental health disorders are known to self-medicate through drinking, and those with AUD are known to experience mental health disorders over time. This vicious cycle exasperates the situation and causes further harm to a person’s psychological health. The psychiatric disorders which are associated with chronic alcohol abuse include: 

• Major depression
• Certain anxiety disorders
• Dysthymia 
• Depersonalization
• Mania
• Hypomania
• Panic disorder 
• Generalized anxiety disorder
• Personality disorders 
• Schizophrenia 
• Suicidal thoughts and ideation 
• Neurologic deficits (impairments of working memory, emotions, executive functions, and visuospatial abilities)
• Brain damage

What Is Alcohol Poisoning?  

Alcohol poisoning, also known as alcohol overdose, is a serious condition caused by excessive drinking over a short period of time. The toxic level of alcohol in the bloodstream affects and shuts down regions of the brain that regulate essential life-support processes, such as breathing, heart rate, and temperature control. Some of the signs and symptoms of alcohol poisoning include: 

• Slowed or irregular breathing 
• Cyanosis or blue-tinted skin 
• Confusion 
• Nausea and vomiting 
• Unconsciousness 
• Seizures 
• Pale skin 
• Low body temperature or hypothermia 

Alcohol poisoning can result in a coma, brain injury, and death in most serious cases. If you suspect someone with this condition, dial 911 immediately. Individuals experiencing this condition must never be left unattended till help arrives.

What Is a Hangover?

A hangover is a set of uncomfortable signs and symptoms generally experiences after a night of heavy drinking. While most symptoms dissipate within a few hours, some can last for up to 24 hours. Hangovers usually appear when BAC drops to zero or close to zero. This causes dehydration and blood vessels in the body and brain to expand.  Some of the symptoms of a hangover include:

• Fatigue and weakness
• Excessive thirst and dry mouth
• Headaches and muscle aches
• Nausea, vomiting, or stomach pain
• Poor or decreased sleep
• Increased sensitivity to light and sound
• Dizziness 
• Shakiness
• Decreased ability to concentrate
• Mood disturbances such as depression, anxiety, and irritability
• Rapid heartbeat

Doctors recommend not drinking again within 48 hours of heavy drinking to allow the body to recover. Since some of the symptoms of a hangover closely resemble withdrawal symptoms, it’s vital to monitor your condition. If the symptoms persist longer, seek assistance and guidance from a health care provider or addiction specialist.

What Is Alcohol Intolerance?

Alcohol intolerance occurs when your body lacks the enzymes necessary to metabolize the toxins found in the alcoholic beverage, and causing you to feel ill shortly after drinking. An allergic reaction to a grain such as corn, wheat, rye, or another ingredient in the alcoholic drink can also cause such reactions. Symptoms of alcohol intolerance can include:

• Facial flushing
• Nausea and vomiting
• Worsening of asthma
• Diarrhea
• Low blood pressure
• Rapid heartbeat or heart palpitations
• Migraines, fatigue, and other hangover-like symptoms

Seek immediate medical attention if you experience any of these symptoms. While there is no cure for this condition, avoiding alcoholic beverages can help you stay symptom-free.

Alcohol is a powerful chemical that can have a wide range of adverse effects on almost every part of your body. While moderate drinking can cause short-term effects on the brain and body, the long-term effects of chronic drinking can increase the risk of liver diseases, the risk of heart diseases, the risk of cancers, and mental health disorders. While some of these damages can be reversed through abstinence, others are life-long conditions that can drastically shorten your life span and quality of life.

If you or someone you love requires help with AUD, substance dependence, and mental health conditions, Futures Recovery Healthcare is here for you. We provide the highest level of care through highly qualified addiction specialists and counselors to help you on your journey to recovery.