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SponsoredAlcohol’s damaging effects extend well beyond compulsive drinking and reckless behaviors. As a substance, alcohol slowly damages cells and tissues, causing widespread disruption throughout the body.
People seeking treatment for chronic alcoholism often enter the treatment process with a range of problems, both physical and psychological. Though addiction recovery may be the focus of treatment, co-occurring serious medical conditions can seriously compromise a person’s recovery efforts. For this reason, it’s equally important to receive needed medical care when recovering from chronic alcoholism.
Long-Term Health Risks of Chronic Alcoholism
For some people, what starts as a casual drink here and there turns into an out-of-control behavior that impacts almost every aspect of one’s life, including their physical health. According to the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, between the years 2020 and 2021, chronic alcoholism accounted for:
- 1 in 5 deaths among adults aged 12 to 49
- 2/3 of the 178,000 deaths that year were attributed to excessive alcohol use
- Economic costs of more than $249 billion in lost work productivity, healthcare expenses and legal costs
Effects of Chronic Alcoholism on the Body
Heart
Over time, excess drinking weakens the heart muscle, impairing the heart’s ability to contract and pump blood through the body. Also known as alcoholic cardiomyopathy, this condition causes intermittent blood flow shortages, which can result in damage to the body’s organs and tissues over time.
Under these conditions, the risk of stroke increases considerably. Furthermore, alcohol’s effects also interfere with the heart’s electrical activity, potentially causing an irregular heartbeat or arrhythmia.
Liver & Pancreas
The liver acts as the body’s filter, removing toxins and harmful materials from the blood. Chronic alcoholism makes the liver work especially hard, causing cells to start to die off, which can lead to failure. As a result, toxins start to build up in the bloodstream, leading to further damage throughout the body.
The pancreas’s main role is to facilitate digestion by secreting enzymes that are needed to break down carbohydrates, fats and proteins in the small intestine.
The pancreas is also responsible for the regulation of blood sugar levels by secreting the hormones insulin and glucagon. With chronic alcoholism, damage to the pancreas leaves the body unable to metabolize food materials and can lead tohyperglycemia or diabetes and, in some cases, death.
Brain
Long-term alcohol abuse causes extensive damage to the brain’s structures and overall chemical-make-up. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism, chronic alcoholism results in ongoing states of mental confusion and losses in muscle coordination.
Long-term effects on brain function may also result in impairment of learning and memory. This condition, commonly known as Wernicke–Korsakoff Syndrome, affects a person’s ability to function normally.
Treatment Considerations
Considering the extensive damage brought on by chronic alcoholism, the need for immediate and ongoing medical care becomes a critical component of the recovery process.
Upon entering alcohol treatment, people with a history of long-term or heavy alcohol abuse will likely experience uncomfortable and, in some cases, life-threatening withdrawal symptoms. These dangerous outcomes, including seizures and delirium tremens, warrant immediate medical care.
For this reason, a medically supervised detox program is the safest way to begin the recovery process.