Melissa’s personal experiences with addiction and mental health struggles instilled within her a profound passion for supporting others on their recovery journey. Her unwavering commitment to peer support, coupled with her own lived experience, fuels her drive to make a meaningful impact in the lives of those facing similar challenges. While casual to moderate drinking may be a part of life for some, excessive or chronic alcohol consumption can significantly impact your body and long-term health. These powerful chemicals manage everything from your sex drive to how fast you digest food. For example, some studies suggest that moderate alcohol drinking can affect fertility for some women.
Diarrhea and Heartburn
These mood swings can be difficult for both the person struggling with addiction as well as their friends and family members. This dual impact has adverse effects on overall health and well-being. These complications can manifest in conditions like arrhythmias, cardiomyopathy, and an increased likelihood of strokes. Omar Mousa, M.B.B.S., M.D., practices gastroenterology and hepatology (digestive and liver care) in Mankato, Minnesota.
Alcohol-induced mental health conditions
Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic brain disorder that makes it difficult to control alcohol use, even when it’s causing problems. Drinking alcohol during pregnancy can lead to symptoms of fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). FASD can cause a range of neurodevelopmental and physical effects in the child after birth.
Your gut health can be negatively affected
Tina Aswani-Omprakash vividly remembers the day that led her to give up drinking forever. Receive free access to exclusive content, a personalized homepage based on your interests, and a weekly newsletter with the topics of your choice. The number of drinks you regularly consume actually matters more than how intoxicated you feel, Dr. Schneekloth says.
Mental Health Issues
Receive free access to exclusive content, a personalized homepage based on your interests, and a weekly newsletter with topics of your choice. Alcohol use disorder can include periods of being drunk (alcohol intoxication) and symptoms of withdrawal. https://sober-home.org/dmt-uses-side-effects-and-risks/ Drinking alcohol every day is not a definitive sign of alcohol use or addiction by itself. However, Dr. Hartz also believes that in the future, health practitioners may want to develop more highly personalized guidelines for their patients.
For more information about alcohol and cancer, please visit the National Cancer Institute’s webpage “Alcohol and Cancer Risk” (last accessed June 6, 2024). However, when researchers evaluate these potential factors, the risks outweigh any benefits. Drinking alcohol can influence your psychological functioning and well-being. Alcohol also causes damage to nerves and pathways, which disrupts communication between essential organs and bodily functions. Alcohol use suppresses the central nervous system and destroys neurons. This can lead to conditions like stroke, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), Alzheimer’s disease, and multiple sclerosis (MS).
- Any amount of alcohol can diminish your judgment and functioning, and even low or moderate alcohol use can have harmful effects on different organs.
- She is a married mother of four and loves the circus — that is her home!
- Some people are born with high tolerance; many people develop a tolerance with regular drinking.
- If you’re looking to reduce how much you drink, consider swapping in some of the popular alternatives to alcohol and speak to your doctor if you have concerns about how much you’re drinking.
Alcohol consumption causes your heart rate and breathing to speed up. This makes it more difficult to relax enough to get deep sleep and REM cycles, and can simply make it more challenging to fall asleep in the first place. Even then, alcohol suppresses melatonin production, the hormone that controls your sleep-wake cycle. As such, alcohol directly interferes with your body’s circadian rhythm, throwing off your body’s natural cues of when it’s time to rise and rest. Essentially, alcohol prevents your bacteria from communicating with one another, resulting in an impaired immune response.
There’s now a better understanding of the link between drinking and some illnesses, including a range of cancers. Regardless of possible health benefits, the reality is that alcohol is a toxic and psychoactive substance. According to the World Health Organization, it contributes to three million deaths globally each year.
It could be that it messes with the part of your brain that processes sound. Or it might damage the nerves and tiny hairs in your inner ear that help you hear. However it happens, drinking means you need a sound to be louder so you can hear it. If you drink every day, or almost every day, you might notice that you catch colds, flu or other illnesses more frequently than people who don’t drink.
Long-term use can cause these levels to become imbalanced, leading to feelings of hopelessness or despair that could eventually develop into clinical depression when left untreated. Consuming alcohol can significantly affect your health, as well as your overall well-being and safety. Alcohol is the third-leading preventable cause of death in the U.S., with 95,000 people dying each year from alcohol-related causes. While the pandemic has increased alcohol use, this isn’t a new concern. Alcohol use disorders are among the most common substance use disorders worldwide. It’s called “low risk” rather than “safe” because there’s no safe drinking level.
A practical and extensive resource guide for women who want to understand and take charge of their own health and healthcare, presented in short, focused, easy-to-read chapters. Log in or create an account for a personalized experience based on your selected interests. Take the first step toward addiction treatment by contacting us today. “A 20 percent increase in risk of death is a much bigger deal in older people who already are at higher risk,” notes Dr. Hartz. Further, family support during recovery plays an integral role in long-term success, providing active assistance when needed.
Alcohol use can cause sexual dysfunction, such as difficulty achieving or maintaining an erection and decreased sexual sensations. The impact alcohol has on the reproductive system extends beyond these temporary effects. Chronic alcohol use causes hormone imbalances https://sober-home.org/ in both men and women and leads to problems with fertility. Excess alcohol use can also impair nutrient absorption in the small intestine and increase the risk of malnutrition. That’s why hard drinking can lead to diarrhea, which can turn into a long-term problem.
If you want to know more about alcohol units and how to calculate them, visit Alcohol Change UK’s calculator. There’s some research that suggests red wine might be the best choice for people who want to drink occasionally. In fact, Pabla says, some small studies have found that 1 to 3 grams of red wine per week might improve inflammation in the gut. In contrast, another study found that people who drank beer “had significantly worse endoscopic disease,” he says.
These expert tips can help you calm your mind and body and get a peaceful night’s rest every night. As Annie Grace, the author of This Naked Mind, brilliantly puts it, “When there is no perceived benefit, there is no desire.” By reshaping our beliefs about alcohol, we have the power to weaken our cravings. It’s the perfect starting point to help you uncover your hidden beliefs about alcohol and take the first step to weakening your craving.
I have experience working with all age groups and backgrounds and have worked in hospitals, inpatient, outpatient, and partial hospitalization programs providing clinical social work services. Having a glass of wine with dinner or a beer at a party here and there isn’t going to destroy your gut. But even low amounts of daily drinking and prolonged and heavy use of alcohol can lead to significant problems for your digestive system.