6 Long Term Effects Of Alcoholism On The Brain And Other Organs
If you or someone you know has struggled with alcoholism one of the questions you might have asked so far includes: what are the long-term effects of alcoholism on the brain and body? People who are addicted to alcohol experience many symptoms especially when it’s a long term Abuse. Alcoholism is defined as a substance abuse disorder in which the person continues to drink despite negative physical, mental, and social consequences. Read more on the effects of alcoholism.
The cumulative effects of long term alcohol abuse are significant on the brain and body. For example: shrinking brain, blackouts, behavioral changes, heart damage, liver damage, and dependence. Also: pancreatitis, diarrhea, infertility, Sexual dysfunction, malnutrition, diabetes, and numbness of the limbs. Other consequences might even include hallucinations, cancer, Birth defects, thinning bones, muscle cramps, jaundice, and even death.
Long term effects of alcoholism on the brain and other organs:
- Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas which often occurs after long term alcohol abuse. Drinking too much alcohol will cause a back up of digestive enzymes in the pancreas because it can’t properly process them.
- Cirrhosis of the liver is a common symptom of long-term alcohol abuse. Your liver is the main organ that breaks down and processes toxins and harmful substances that pass through your body this includes alcohol. Furthermore too much alcohol becomes too difficult for your liberal to handle it starts becoming inflamed and creating scar tissue. The scar tissue is called cirrhosis and it permanently damages your liver and prohibits it from doing its job.
- Liver disease Is a progressed form of cirrhosis when the toxins build up so much so that they start to build up in the entire body. This can be a fatal disease.
- Brain disorders is one of the long term effects of alcohol abuse. This is where the physiological dependence starts and progresses through the body. The alcoholic may also experience brain shrinkage, memory loss, learning disabilities, and even dementia.
- Ulcers and hemorrhoids are common side effects of alcohol abuse. That’s because over drinking severely damages the tissues of your digestive tract. Furthermore it prevents them from absorbing the nutrients they do need like vitamins and minerals from your food. Ulcers can be fatal if they go untreated and becomes severe enough as well.
- Cancer is a huge risk for heavy drinkers. Common cancers for alcoholics include but are not limited to: colon, esophagus, mouth, liver, and throat.
More symptoms of heavy drinking:
Long term effects of alcoholism: withdrawal Symptoms. Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal can be fatal, if you think you are experiencing symptoms of alcohol withdrawal please call 911.
Symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include but are not limited to:
- Anxiety
- Nervousness
- Nausea
- Tremors
- High blood pressure
- Irregular heartbeat
- Heavy sweating
- Seizures
- Hallucinations
- Delirium
Sources:
- Alcohol and cancer risk. (2013).
cancer.gov/about-cancer/causes-prevention/risk/alcohol/alcohol-fact-sheet - Alcohol facts and statistics. (2017).
niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/overview-alcohol-consumption/alcohol-facts-and-statistics - Alcohol-related pancreatitis. (2010).
ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmedhealth/PMH0047846/ - Alcohol’s effects on the body. (n.d.).
niaaa.nih.gov/alcohol-health/alcohols-effects-body - Excessive alcohol use and risks to women’s health. (2016).
cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/womens-health.htm - Fact sheets – excessive alcohol use and risks to men’s health. (2016).
