Long Term Effects of Alcohol
Alcohol has a long history of use and acceptance in most all cultures. Alcohol also carries certain medicinal properties, as evidenced by its use in cough syrups and antiseptic agents.
The widespread acceptance of alcohol consumption has led more than a few unsuspecting drinkers down the road to alcoholism. While many people can drink on occasion without experiencing negative consequences, others become trapped inside a cycle of alcohol abuse and addiction.
People who drink on regular basis may be opening themselves up to the long term effects of alcohol. Ongoing alcohol abuse patterns have cumulative effects on the mind and body. Before long, the physical long term effects of alcohol take over a person’s ability to manage drinking behaviors. Once this happens, the psychological long term effects of alcohol start to appear.
Alcohol Abuse
According to West Virginia University, alcohol abuse can take different forms, all of which can lead to alcohol addiction. In effect, anyone who abuses alcohol on continuous basis will likely experience the long term effects of alcohol. The first noticeable stage of alcohol abuse takes shape once the body becomes dependent on alcohol’s effects to function normally.
Binge drinkers may experience adverse effects from drinking without necessarily becoming dependent. In cases where a person binge drinks on a frequent basis, the risk of dependency and addiction increase considerably.
Problem drinkers engage in excess drinking in spite of the negative consequences it brings. Negative consequences may take the form of –
- Legal problems
- Relationship problems
- Problems at work
- Health problems
As addiction has more to do with a person’s belief in the “need” for alcohol to function normally, problem drinkers have likely developed a full-blown addiction.
Long Term Health Effects
The long term effects of alcohol stem from the body’s physical dependence on alcohol’s effects. Alcohol dependency can develop over the course of months or years depending on how often a person drinks and the amounts normally consumed. In effect, alcohol can cause widespread deterioration of brain cells as wells as bodily structures and functions.
According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, the long term effects of alcohol on a person’s health include –
- Heart problems
- Liver disease
- Gastritis
- Pancreatitis
- High blood pressure
- Cancers in the mouth and/or throat
- Increased heart attack risk
Long Term Psychological Effects
According to the University of Washington, the long term effects of alcohol inevitably affect a person’s psychological stability as alcohol alters chemical processes in the brain. In turn, the brain naturally adapts to alcohol’s effects, which enables a person to drink increasingly larger amounts of alcohol over time.
Psychological conditions resulting from the long term effects of alcohol include –
- Panic disorders
- Schizophrenia
- Bouts of anxiety
- Depression episodes
- Personality disorders
According to the Medical University of South Carolina, depression and anxiety disorders affect one out of every three alcoholics. Likewise, major depressive disorders are four times more likely in alcoholics compared to non-drinkers.
Much like the physical effects of alcohol abuse breed continued drinking, someone suffering from depression or anxiety symptoms will likely continue drinking in an attempt to self-medicate his or her symptoms.
Right Step - Houston Central
Housed in a collection of historic homes surrounding a common courtyard, Right Step Houston nestles comfortably into the tree-lined streets of the city’s hip Montrose neighborhood.
Details ›Fellowship Hall
You're not a resident or a client at Fellowship Hall, and you’re definitely not a patient. You’re a guest. Whatever the terminology, miracles happen at this treatment center snugly situated amidst the gently rolling hills of North Carolina’s historic Piedmont area.
Details ›Palm Partners Recovery Center
Palm Partners Treatment Center is one of America’s leading addiction treatment providers for drug alcohol detox treatment, drug rehab, alcohol rehabilitation and is staffed with highly trained addiction specialists. Palm Partners was founded in 1994 and was incorporated in Florida in the year 2003.
Details ›