Alcohol consumption can take a toll on your health and relationships. The next time you think about grabbing a glass of whiskey or drinking a bottle of wine, remember this list of negative long-term effects of alcohol.
What Are the Worst Things Alcohol Can Do to Your Body?
Drinking alcohol can help you relax and forget about your problems, even for a little while. However, that’s not the only effect of alcohol. Prolonged consumption of too much alcohol can negatively affect your health. It doesn’t matter whether you have an alcohol use disorder or consume the intoxicating substance to relax or socialize – you’re still at risk of experiencing adverse effects of long-term drinking.
1. Wernicke’s Encephalopathy and Korsakoff Syndrome
Alcohol’s impact on the brain goes beyond slurred speech and coordination, blackouts, and impaired judgment after getting intoxicated. An estimated 80% of alcoholics experience thiamine deficiency. Low thiamine or vitamin B1 can cause Wernicke’s encephalopathy, an acute neurological condition. Untreated, the disease can develop into Korsakoff’s syndrome, which causes confusion, behavioural changes, and memory deficits.
Seek immediate medical attention if you suspect you have Wernicke’s encephalopathy to prevent the condition from progressing to irreversible Korsakoff Syndrome. Treatment usually involves administering thiamine and getting proper nutrition and enough fluid.
At HARP, you’ll get all the nutrition and hydration you need to deal with the long-term effects of alcohol. You can enjoy fine dining and nutritious meals prepared by skilled private chefs in the centre.
2. Weak Immune System
Did you know that alcohol can also weaken your immune system? A person’s immune system comprises various cell types, each having a significant role in keeping you healthy. Among them are T and B cells. The former destroys infected cells, while the latter creates antibodies. However, heavy alcohol consumption can decrease the number of these lymphocytes, making your body more susceptible to diseases such as pneumonia or tuberculosis.
Your immune system will likely recover after you stop drinking and start a healthy lifestyle. If overcoming addiction is becoming an uphill battle, consider seeking help at HARP rehabilitation centre. Surrounded by nature and qualified, compassionate people, dealing with the long-term effects of alcohol and overcoming dependence will be a lot less challenging.
3. Heart Conditions
Studies suggest that alcohol intake is associated with a lower risk of heart illnesses. But it’s a different story if you’re consuming more alcohol than your body can handle. Excessive alcohol intake will likely lead to the development of various heart conditions, including heart failure, stroke, or high blood pressure. It can also contribute to cardiomyopathy, a disease that makes it harder for the heart to pump blood.
The long-term effects of alcohol on your heart are irreversible. You can only manage the symptoms by taking medications and changing your lifestyle, which involves regular exercise, good sleep, and proper diet. HARP is equipped with amenities that allow clients to start a healthy lifestyle, such as a private gym and fine dining.
4. Alcohol-Related Liver Disease (ALD)
Your liver will also suffer from the long-term effects of alcohol consumption since it’s one of the organs responsible for removing the substance from your body. Alcohol-related liver disease encompasses a spectrum of damage, which is divided into three stages. First is fatty liver, a common asymptomatic condition that affects around 90% of people who regularly drink too much alcohol. At this stage, the liver may become enlarged.
The next stage of ALD is alcohol-related hepatitis, a condition of widespread liver inflammation, scarring, fibrosis, and liver cell necrosis. A severe case of alcohol-related hepatitis can worsen quickly and can even result in death. The last stage is alcohol-related cirrhosis, an irreversible liver condition. Alcoholics with this condition are at risk of developing liver cancer.
Abstaining from alcohol consumption can help reverse the substance’s mild damage to your liver. However, this task can be challenging, especially if alcohol is within your reach. At HARP rehab centre, you can stay in a serene environment devoid of anything that will tempt you to drink alcohol.
5. Gastrointestinal Tract Disorders
You may also experience long-term effects of alcohol on your gastrointestinal tract. Alcohol can interfere with the function and structure of your GI tract. For example, the substance can damage your oesophagus mucosal lining, which can increase the risk of oesophageal cancer. It can also impact the muscle movement in the intestines and prevent the absorption of nutrients.
Aside from consulting a medical professional to get a treatment plan, quitting or cutting back on alcohol will help. Your doctor may also recommend that you avoid acidic beverages and spicy foods and suggest eating smaller meals. At HARP rehab facility, you’ll get a holistic treatment tailored to your needs and circumstances.
6. Kidney Failure
Kidney failure is one of the long-term effects of alcohol. Consuming too much alcohol for a prolonged period can damage the kidney and impair its function, which is to filter waste and regulate the amount of water in the body. In the worst-case scenario, alcohol use can cause rhabdomyolysis or the breakdown of tissue into your bloodstream. If untreated, rhabdomyolysis can lead to kidney failure.
While a kidney is replaceable, the transplant process comes with risks. If you are lucky not to develop kidney problems yet, value this part of your body and stop excessively drinking alcohol. HARP offers help to people struggling with alcohol and other types of addiction. With the centre’s personalized and top-of-the-line treatment programs and qualified, compassionate team, it’s possible to overcome addiction.
7. Sexual and Reproductive Health Problems
Sexual dysfunction is another possible long-term effect of alcohol in your body. Excessive alcohol consumption is associated with erectile dysfunction in men and ceasing of menstruation in women.
While it is difficult to say if you can reverse the aforementioned conditions, you might see improvement by exercising regularly, eating a balanced diet, and avoiding stress. Reducing or stopping your alcohol intake will likely help, too. HARP can help you understand the underlying cause of your addiction through counselling and find effective ways to overcome it.
Beyond the long-term effects of alcohol on health, alcohol abuse or misuse brings significant economic and social losses to addicted individuals, their families, and society at large.
Learn More About Alcoholism
Alcohol can ruin a lot of beautiful things – the human body, family and friendships, career, and even society. It even takes lives. Worldwide, 3 million deaths result every year from alcohol abuse or misuse. Don’t be one of them – seek treatment today.
