Most people are well-aware of the immediate and less serious side effects of alcohol abuse. From slurred speech, blurred vision, concentration problems, reduced inhibitions, confusion and difficulty walking to memory loss, breathing problems and waking up with a terrible hangover – we’ve all been there.
Despite the fact that the consequences of heavy drinking have been particularly well-documented in recent years, many are still unaware of the more serious implications of regular and excessive drinking.
Alcohol is in fact the world’s third largest risk factor for disease and it’s the most abused drug in Canada so here we have highlighted just some of the long-term health effects of its abuse.
Addiction – typically, people consume alcohol to help them relax, feel more confident in social situations, to have a good time and to help forget the harsh realities of life. Because of these associations, it’s easy to become addicted and develop dangerous attitudes towards alcohol.
Anemia – this can trigger a host of symptoms including fatigue, shortness of breath and lightheadedness.
Cancer – habitual drinking increases the risk of many different types of cancer including breast, liver, mouth, throat and esophagus. Scientists believe the reason for this increased risk comes when the body converts alcohol into acetaldehyde which is a potent carcinogen. Additionally to this, the risk of cancer rises even further in heavy drinkers who also smoke tobacco.
Cardiovascular Disease – in a landmark study published by Harvard researchers in 2015, it was discovered that binge drinking doubles the risk of death amongst those who initially survived a heart attack. Heavy drinking can also cause cardiomyopathy (a potentially deadly condition in which the heart muscle weakens and eventually fails as well as rhythm abnormalities).
Cirrhosis of the Liver – alcohol is toxic to liver cells which is why many heavy drinkers develop cirrhosis. Due to the fact that the liver can become so heavily scarred that it’s unable to function, this condition can even be lethal. Although the reasons are unknown, women are particularly vulnerable to cirrhosis.
Dementia – as people age their brains shrink at an average rate of about 1.9% per decade. Heavy drinking speeds this up however which results in memory loss and other symptoms of dementia.
Depression – although it’s well-known that heavy drinking often goes hand in hand with depression, there is strong debate about which came first – the drinking or the depression. Whilst many assume that those with depression turn to alcohol to ‘self-medicate’, a New Zealand study showed that there’s a strong possibility that it’s the other way around – heavy drinking leads to depression.
Gout – as well as being known to aggravate existing cases of gout, alcohol can play a factor in developing it in the first place.
Some of the other health effects and alcohol abuse signs include high blood pressure, hypertension, nerve damage, seizures and becoming more prone to developing infections such as tuberculosis, pneumonia, HIV/AIDS and other STDs contracted through unsafe sex while under the influence of alcohol.
If you think that you could have an addiction to alcohol, please visit our Drug and Alcohol page for more information. Alternatively, feel free to contact us in the strictest of confidence and we will be more than happy to advise about alcoholism treatment and alcohol addiction recovery.
