Alcoholism Side Effects: What’s Happening in the Body

Chances are, you or someone you know has experienced a hangover at some point. The headache, nausea, and dizziness, all caused by drinking too much the night before, are debilitating. The good news is that they are typically short-lived. But what about those who drink all the time? What is alcohol doing to the inside of their body?

The consequences of long-term alcohol use are often devastating. In 2022 alone, the death rate was 14.9 per 100,000 in California for chronic liver disease/cirrhosis. The number one cause of this condition is prolonged alcohol consumption.

Here at Healthy U Behavioral Health, we help educate our communities on the impacts alcohol use disorder can have. Here, we discuss alcoholism side effects and how they wreak havoc within the body.

The Science of Alcohol: How It Impacts Your Body

Alcohol is a commonly consumed substance despite many knowing the adverse effects it can cause. When alcohol enters the bloodstream, it travels to the liver, where enzymes such as alcohol dehydrogenase and aldehyde dehydrogenase begin breaking it down.

However, the liver can only metabolize so much alcohol per hour, which equates to one standard drink on average. This includes one 12 oz. beer, one 5 oz. glass of wine, or 1.5 oz. of distilled spirits, such as tequila or vodka.

Alcohol continues to circulate throughout the body, and when it reaches the brain, it acts as a central nervous system depressant. It can cause feelings of pleasure and relaxation followed by drowsiness and slowed motor functions. Prolonged alcohol consumption will cause changes in the brain, including tolerance, dependency, and a variety of adverse health reactions.

Alcohol's Toll on Your Liver

The liver filters toxins from the body, including metabolizing alcohol. During excessive consumption, it becomes overwhelmed, trying to keep up. When alcohol is metabolized, it produces acetaldehyde, which is a known carcinogen. Though acetaldehyde is only in the liver for a short time, chronic alcohol use exposes the liver continuously. This leads to liver disease and the possibility of liver cancer.

The stages of liver disease include:

• Fatty liver disease: This is the earliest stage of liver disease, characterized by the accumulation of fat in liver cells. It is often reversible when the person stops drinking, however, persistent alcohol consumption will exacerbate the condition.
• Alcoholic hepatitis: Prolonged alcohol consumption leads to inflammation of the liver, known as alcoholic hepatitis. This condition is considered a moderate stage of liver disease. Symptoms set in rapidly and include jaundice, abdominal pain, and fatigue. Alcoholic hepatitis is life-threatening when severe, requiring immediate medical attention.
• Cirrhosis: This condition involves scarring of liver tissue, which reduces the liver's ability to function. Cirrhosis is considered end-stage liver disease and is often irreversible. The risk of liver failure and developing liver cancer is high at this stage.
• Liver cancer: Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common form of liver cancer. Those who drink chronically are at an increased risk of developing this type.

The liver is able to regenerate to an extent, but chronic alcohol use will eventually impair its ability to heal. Early detection is crucial to preventing the liver from experiencing further damage.

How Alcohol Disrupts Your Central Nervous System

The central nervous system controls vital processes including breathing, temperature regulation, and heart rate. When alcohol is consumed, the central nervous system slows, resulting in the impairment of these processes. The short-term effects include poor judgment and decision-making, slurred speech, reduced coordination, drowsiness, and difficulties with memory.

In the long term, frequent and chronic alcohol use will lead to neuropathy (damage to peripheral nerves resulting in pain and weakness) and loss of brain tissue. The areas of the brain affected the most control memory and emotion regulation.

The Immediate Effects of Alcoholism on Your Health

The immediate effects of alcohol use disorders may not feel that harmful on the outside, however, the body will feel them in full force. Alcohol is a diuretic, meaning it causes frequent urination. It also does not hydrate the body in any way. Frequent alcohol consumption will result in dehydration, which affects how the kidneys function.

Binge drinking can cause acute kidney injury, resulting in a significant drop in kidney function. While this typically goes away after drinking has stopped, there is a possibility it will cause permanent kidney damage.

When drinking occurs, the brain experiences lowered inhibitions and loss of coordination. This puts the person at risk of making poor decisions and acting recklessly. They may decide to drive despite being intoxicated, increasing the likelihood of getting into an accident. Their balance will be off and can cause falls that end with injuries. These scenarios are dangerous and life-threatening to the person and those around them.

Alcohol causes cravings for fatty foods high in carbohydrates, and having this type of diet will lead to adverse health effects. The immune system will directly feel these effects as it needs foods with vitamins and minerals to function properly. Without these, it cannot fight off infections, causing frequent illness. Poor nutrition will also cause weight to change, furthering the strain on the body.

The Lasting Consequences of Alcoholism on Your Body

Besides the liver, the long-term consequences of alcohol use disorder take a toll on other organs. One of the most impacted is the heart and cardiovascular system. Alcohol causes blood pressure to rise due to vasoconstriction, the narrowing of the blood vessels. The heart has to work harder to pump blood throughout the body.

This added stress leads to cardiomyopathy (weakening of the muscle), arrhythmia (irregular heartbeat), heart attacks, and strokes.

Alcohol use disorder also puts strain on the digestive system, including the intestines and colon. Drinking alcohol slows peristalsis in the intestines. This process of muscle movement pushes waste through the digestive system. When it slows, constipation occurs. Combined with dehydration, constipation may become serious and require medical intervention. Alcohol also causes irritation to the lining of the stomach and intestines, which can lead to damage to these organs.

As we mentioned above, alcohol metabolization produces a carcinogenic substance. Besides liver cancer, chronic alcohol consumption is associated with cancer of the esophagus, mouth, colon, stomach, pancreas, and breast.

Alcohol Use Disorder and Long-Term Mental Health Concerns

Besides physical health, alcohol use disorder takes a toll mentally. Over time, drinking increases feelings of depression and anxiety, especially in those who already had the conditions before drinking began.

Emotions are more difficult to manage while consuming alcohol, however, the feelings of guilt or shame from drinking drive the cycle to continue.

Alcohol also interferes with how certain antidepressants function and may cause an adverse reaction. It is always advised to talk to your doctor about your current medications and how alcohol will interact with them.

Get Help For Alcohol Use Disorder in San Diego, CA

Experiencing the side effects of alcohol use disorder affects every aspect of your life, physically, mentally, and emotionally. Despite these, it may feel impossible to stop drinking on your own. This is where alcohol addiction treatment from Healthy U comes in, helping you break the cycle.

Through guided therapies and skill-building classes, you will learn why your drinking began and how to cope healthily in the future. Alcohol has been your crutch in the past, helping you hobble through life at the pace it set for you. Leaving it behind will give you the freedom to walk through life on your own two feet, however fast or slow you want it to be.