The Health Consequences of Excess Alcohol Consumption

Many known health issues arise from drinking too much. Alcohol is a neurotoxin and a mild-poison to the body. A common health problem associated with excessive or over-drinking is Cirrhosis of the liver. In fact, there has been a 65% increase in Cirrhosis deaths due to alcohol consumption in the U.S. (cite: 1).

Some common health issues with long-term excessive alcohol use include; high blood pressure, heart disease, stroke, and cancer. The risk to specific types of cancers is well-documented, these cancers include; breast, mouth, throat, liver, and colon cancer. When it comes to your brain, alcohol can do a number on you causing memory problems, dementia, and early-onset Alzheimer’s. The common psychological problems are depression and anxiety (cite 2).

You have an extremely high risk of becoming dependent on alcohol to function normally. Once addicted to alcohol you will be subjected to a whole host of other challenging health issues, none of which is fun to think about. If you are already there, it’s probably time to get some help as soon as possible. Over 88,000 alcohol-related deaths occur each year in the United States (cite: 3).

Unconvinced You Have a Drinking Problem?

There is an easy way to prove to yourself that you don’t have a drinking problem. Simply take 2-months off from your drinking and don’t drink any alcoholic beverages during that time. If you have no withdrawal symptoms or any pressing urge to have a drink, then you win. If you just can’t do it, don’t be surprised, most people who have alcohol use disorder don’t realize it either.

Do you have a family member who is in denial, yet you can readily see all the signs pointing toward alcoholism? Have you realized that you can’t help them and they won’t help themselves? How about you? Where are you with your alcohol consumption? Need help? It is okay to ask for help before it gets any worse. The damage to your health will only progress if you keep drinking.

References:

1.) NIH – National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism funded study; “The Epidemiology of Alcoholic Liver Disease,” by Robert E. Mann, Reginald G. Smart, and Richard Govoni, published in The Journal of Alcohol Research and Health. 2003; 27(3): 209-219.<“Fact Sheets – Alcohol Use and Your Health,” updated January 2018.

3.) NIH – National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism – website page; “Alcohol Facts and Statistics,” last updated December 2019.