Content
In fact, recent research by The Recovery Village has found heavy drinking can increase your risk of cancer by 48% by itself. As the stage progresses, the disease takes hold and develops into middle-stage alcoholism. For a person who drinks occasionally, this adaptation is distinct and temporary.
The more a person drinks, the more their body becomes dependent on ethanol to release these neurotransmitters instead of releasing them naturally. Additionally, no two individuals have identical reasons that lead them to develop alcohol use disorder. Despite the variation in specific causes and timeframes from person to person, the disease itself follows a pattern. Mild to moderate alcohol withdrawal can be done in an outpatient setting, often requiring daily check-ins. Individuals with more serious symptoms should be treated in an inpatient setting, where their condition can be more closely monitored. In fact, a recent study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that the majority of Americans who drink more than one or two drinks a day are not alcoholics.
Extend Your Life
Alcoholism is a chronic disease that progresses through early, middle and late stages. In 2019, it affected 14.5 millionAmericans aged 12 and older, or 5.3% of the population. There’s a link between alcohol misuse and the risk of suicidal thoughts, attempts and death by suicide. A 2021 study found men with a history of alcohol charges have more than twice the risk of suicide. In conclusion, the lifestyle factors of an alcoholic can have a significant impact on their overall health and lifespan.
It can lead to liver disease, pancreatitis, some forms of cancer, brain damage, serious memory loss, and high blood pressure. It also makes someone more likely to die in a car wreck or from murder or suicide. And any alcohol abuse raises the odds of domestic sober house violence, child abuse and neglect, and fetal alcohol syndrome. In the end-stages of alcoholism there are noticeable health conditions, like jaundice from liver failure. There are also more subtle signs like itchy skin, fluid retention, fatigue, and bleeding.
Alcohol and the Immune System
Thousands of people find a solution to their drinking through alcohol rehab each year. Alcohol addiction treatment teaches you more about the nature of your condition and provides you with the tools you need for long-term recovery. If you think a family member or loved one might be showing signs, signals or symptoms of alcoholism, know that it won’t “go away” on its own. Their brain is changing—and without help, there can be serious long-term consequences.
- The result may be a series of ailments, injuries, and illnesses that can significantly shorten an alcoholic’s life.
- If you recognize signs of alcoholism in yourself, you should seek help from medical professionals such as a psychiatrist, primary care doctor or therapist.
- A BAC from 0.25% to 0.40% causes stupor, unconsciousness, anterograde amnesia, vomiting (death may occur due to inhalation of vomit while unconscious) and respiratory depression (potentially life-threatening).