Anything in excess is poison, this phrase seems to be taken very seriously when it comes to alcohol and the effects that it can have on your body. Alcohol abuse is a wide term and includes within it a spectrum ranging from binge drinking to alcohol dependence.
Alcohol abuse has a lot of impact on a person’s life. These impacts, which will be discussed in this blog, will be medical as well as social. Alcohol abuse leads to alcohol-related crimes and also poor social lives later on. Alcoholics’ families and friends no longer wish to associate with them and this might harm their participation in society as a whole as well.
Nevertheless, whatever your thoughts or preferences towards drinking maybe, you should still be aware of the implications that it can have on your body and the damage that it does to you.
Alcohol abuse is defined very widely. It is a spectrum that can include binge drinking or even alcohol dependence. Alcohol abuse, therefore, covers any unhealthy behavior related to alcohol consumption.
Globally, alcohol consumption is the seventh leading cause of death. Not only does it lead to physical changes, but also mental issues and disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Alcohol abuse is defined by many parameters; one of which is risky drinking and standard drinking units. For men, risky drinking is defined by 14 standard unit drinks per week, for women, it’s 7 standard unit drinks per week. For pregnant women and those under 21, however, it is any drinking unit.
Another indicator of alcohol abuse is the level of blood alcohol concentration in the body. It should normally be lower than 0.08%. Any percentage higher than this is seen as alcohol abuse.
There are many ways that alcohol abuse can manifest itself in the body. These range from social issues, physical health deterioration, or mental health deterioration. People who are facing alcohol abuse may find it difficult to socialize with their friends and family. They might find themselves becoming dependent on drinking in social situations thus making it difficult for other people to socialize with them. They may find themselves having a lot of mood swings and might be unable to participate in conversations.
Alcohol abuse has an effect on your sleeping patterns as well. A person is unable to get the required amount of sleep every night, thus causing them to be fatigued throughout the day, and unable to function as well as they could.
Alcohol abuse is also known to have an effect on brain function. Continued alcohol abuse might lead to deteriorating brain function and therefore this would have an effect on a person’s memory and motor function. People may find themselves blacking out and losing consciousness regularly. Moreover, and also most obviously, alcohol abuse tends to have lasting and damaging effects on a person’s body organs, such as their liver.
Alcohol abuse is an issue that needs to be treated with the proper therapist, please consult one as soon as possible.
Sirpa Talvikki Autio MD
