For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health . Verywell Mind’s content is for informational and educational purposes only. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

Heavy drinking can easily lead to an alcohol overdose, also known asalcohol poisoning. Drinking can have a variety of immediate effects on the body. Theseeffects vary depending on the level of intoxication. Though side effects from small amounts are often not dangerous, the more you drink, the consequences of alcohol more likely it is for dangerous effects to occur. Immediate effects include impaired reflexes, slurred speech, and coordination problems. Alcohol use can have a range of adverse effects on one’s relationships. Such effects are particularly pronounced in one’s familial and domestic life.

Immediate Effects of Alcohol

Long-term, heavy drinking can damage the liver and cause liver disease. The more alcohol the liver has to process, the more bloated its cells become. The resulting swelling and inflammation are known as alcoholic hepatitis or alcoholic steatohepatitis. As heavy drinking continues, these conditions can cause cirrhosis to develop. In a recent study by The Recovery Village, heavy drinkers were found to be 2.12 times more likely to have liver disease and 2.26 times more likely to have cirrhosis. Talk to your patients about both the negative physical and psychological effects of alcohol misuse. If you have a patient who is in need of treatment for alcohol abuse, do not hesitate to recommend our alcohol rehabs.

In the short term, alcohol can slow functioning and make the person misusing alcohol feel as though the world is moving slower. For example, studies of men and women with alcoholism have shown greater brain shrinkage than their counterparts. Heavy drinkers are also 2.77 times more likely to have nerve damage than other people.

Finding treatment for alcohol use disorder

You may also have a higher pain threshold, which may increase your risk for injury. Liver disease describes any condition that damages the liver and affects its function. Alcohol-related liver disease specifically refers to conditions that occur due to an overconsumption of alcohol. The liver is the main organ responsible for metabolizing alcohol, which is why it is particularly at risk of damage. During metabolism, the liver turns alcohol into acetaldehyde, a substance that is both toxic and carcinogenic. Relapse is always a risk for those who struggle with alcohol addiction. Even after clients have completed rehab programs at alcohol addiction treatment centers, the risk is there.

• You may find yourself experiencing strong cravings for alcohol and needing to drink more and more each time.
• For men, it is more than four drinks per day or 14 drinks per week.
• Drinking excessively can lead to serious health risks, including addiction, organ damage, depression, and overdose.
• Turn person on their side and do not give them coffee, ibuprofen, aspirin, or put them in a shower.
• Alcohol is one of the oldest known intoxicants and its use results directly or indirectly in tens of thousands of deaths every year in the United States alone.

Alcohol addiction can be a stumbling block, but it doesn’t necessarily prevent you from having a successful career again or for the first time. During treatment, counselors can help you plan for the future and discover what your purpose is in life.

HealthBeat

One third of American adults don’t drink at all and many Americans are drinking less and less. Per capita alcohol consumption has been steadily declining. There is a causal relationship between harmful use of alcohol and a range of mental and behavioural disorders, other noncommunicable conditions and injuries.

Alcohol has the potential to cause so much harm to your health, but with treatment you can get sober and reverse many of the negative effects of alcohol on your body. Treatment for alcoholism may include medical detox, inpatient and/or outpatient rehab, and medications to support long-term recovery. In the U.S. alone, nearly 15 million people suffer from alcohol use disorder. Drinking excessively can lead to serious health risks, including addiction, organ damage, depression, and overdose.

Long-term effects of alcohol

John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. He is the medical director at Alcohol Recovery Medicine.