The United States has an increasingly large number of people struggling with alcohol addiction. However, although most of us are familiar with the opioid epidemic, many are not aware of the alcohol epidemic. Alcohol has many consequences that harm people, communities, and society. The biological effects of alcoholism are well documented and bring a large financial burden on society. From the physical effects to the psychological impact, alcohol leaves its mark on those who use it.
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Dealing With The Biological Effects Of Alcoholism
The biological effects of alcoholism can be serious because there are immediate consequences of drinking, as well as long term effects of alcohol. When understanding the difficulties of an alcohol use disorder, it’s good to know all the ways it will impact your life.
Short Term Effects
The short term effects of alcohol refer to the symptoms you get while drinking or immediately following drinking. Long term effects refer to the symptoms that build up over time. Everyone is different, which means these effects will vary from person to person. However, these symptoms are common:
- Inability to balance yourself
- Moodiness or irritability
- Increased energy
- Nausea or vomiting
- Lacking in judgment
- Rise in blood pressure
- Lowered inhibitions
- Inability to concentrate
You could potentially experience some of these symptoms after drinking only a minimal amount of alcohol.
Long Term Effects
When considering the biological effects of alcoholism, it’s vital to think about the long term effects of alcohol. Consequently, alcohol does take a toll on the body over time. From the head all the way down, alcohol makes its mark on people. Even after you go through detox, the alcohol has affected different parts. Every time you drink, it destroys important bodily functions and the ability of the brain to do its part. Here are some of the long term effects of alcohol:
- Decrease in the brain’s gray and white matter
- Less ability to reason using cognitive function
- Decrease in attention span
- Inability to learn new things
- Forgetting things you’ve learned in the past
- Rise in blood pressure
- Rapid heartbeat
- Cancer, including the mouth, liver, larynx, and breast
- Stroke
- Liver fibrosis
- Hepatitis
- Cardiomyopathy
How long do you have to drink before the long term effects catch up with you? It depends on your overall well-being and health, genetic factors, and how much you drink at one time. There are various factors involved when assessing the risk for long term effects.
Detox From Alcohol
If you are experiencing the biological effects of alcohol, then it is critical to seek out assistance so you can begin to restore your health. Through detox and therapy, you can find hope for recovery.
At an alcohol rehab center, you can take steps to start reversing the harm done to your body. As you walk on your journey to sobriety, you’ll discover how healthy you’ll start to feel. Your physical well-being will flourish as you continue to make the best choices for your life.
Get Started Today
Welcome to Northern Illinois Recovery Center, where your journey is about to begin. Discover tranquility and peace when you let go of alcohol and start new, healthy habits.
Our compassionate therapists will be on hand to provide quality programs to help you along the way. Some of these addiction treatment programs are as follows:
- Partial hospitalization treatment program
- Medication-assisted treatment program
- Intensive outpatient treatment program
- Sober living treatment program
- Drug Rehab treatment program
Don’t let alcohol use disorder take away your dreams. Now that you know more about the biological effects of alcoholism, you can find hope by participating in a rehab center. Contact us at 855.786.1978, and we’ll get you on the path to recovery today.
Licensed Physician and Surgeon
Dr. Beth Dunlap, a board-certified addiction medicine and family medicine physician, and is the medical director at Northern Illinois Recovery Center. She is responsible for overseeing all the integrated medical services at both campuses. Beth completed medical school, residency, and fellowship at Northwestern University, where she continues to serve on the faculty as a member of the Department of Family and Community Medicine. She has extensive experience in addiction medicine at all levels of care, and her clinical interests include integrated primary care and addiction medicine, harm reduction, and medication-assisted treatment.
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