For most people, moderate drinking is not really a cause for concern. There is even some evidence that having about one drink per day might have some health benefits, although that finding remains controversial. If you drink much more than that, you risk developing a number of problems, especially if your alcohol consumption continues to increase. Here are some of the big problems heavy drinking can cause.
Addiction
Addiction is perhaps the most serious problem because it can lead to all the other problems. Addiction can also lead to problems in relationships and at work as drinking becomes your top priority. Signs of addiction include trying to quit and being unable to, blowing off other priorities to drink, borrowing or stealing money to buy alcohol, frequently blacking out, and needing more alcohol to get drunk.
Weight gain
Alcohol has a lot of empty calories. Even one drink a day can add up to more than a thousand extra calories a week. Over time, even moderate drinking is likely to add a few pounds. What’s more, alcohol disrupts your balance of hormones, which can make it harder to lose fat. Extra weight increases your risk for many health problems, including diabetes, heart disease, and cancer.
Liver damage
Alcohol is processed in the liver, creating an intermediate product called acetaldehyde. Acetaldehyde is toxic and the more your liver is exposed to it, the greater risk of damage. Fatty liver disease can develop pretty quickly, but fortunately can resolve pretty quickly too, if you stop drinking. If you keep drinking, you may develop alcoholic hepatitis, and eventually cirrhosis. Once cirrhosis develops, you will need a liver transplant to survive much longer.
Cardiovascular damage
Excessing drinking harms your cardiovascular system in several ways. Early effects include high blood pressure and erratic heartbeat. Heavy drinking can raise levels of triglycerides in your blood, which increases your risk of heart disease and diabetes. If you keep drinking long enough, you significantly increase your risk for cardiomyopathy, or weakening of the heart muscle, as well as heart attack and stroke.
Low blood sugar
Studies estimate that more than 90 percent of people who are addicted to alcohol have low blood sugar, or hypoglycemia. Low blood sugar can cause anxiety, irritability, shaking, sweating, fatigue, irregular heartbeat, and disturbed sleep. If it gets bad enough, it can lead to confusion, blurred vision, seizures, or passing out.
Malnutrition
Excessive drinking can keep nutrients from being absorbed into your small intestines, which can cause malnutrition. People with alcohol use issues are typically deficient in B vitamins, which necessary for energy metabolism. Without enough B vitamins, you are likely to feel fatigued. A serious alcohol addiction may also lead you to not eat enough, or eat cheap, convenient food with little nutritional value.
Dementia
Studies have found that heavy drinking significantly increases your risk of dementia. The later you quit drinking, the higher your risk. Prolonged heavy drinking can also lead to Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which can cause severe impairment of memory and coordination.
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