Effects of Long-Term Alcohol Abuse on the Body

What is Alcohol Abuse?

Did you know that alcohol is actually a depressant from your central nervous system? As a result, long term alcohol abuse can have a direct effect on every part of your body. The reason for this is that when you consume your drink of choice, it’s absorbed into your bloodstream when it reaches your stomach. As a result, it circulates throughout your entire body.

Alcohol abuse is defined as having an uncontrollable compulsion to consume alcohol. Regardless of whether you drink every day or you drink excessively on the weekend, you will undeniably notice a direct and undeniable response from your body due to your alcoholism.

What are the Signs of Alcohol Abuse?

Do you suspect that a loved one is struggling with alcoholism? Is there a possibility that you, yourself, may be suffering from alcohol abuse? Here are some signs that you should keep an eye out for if you suspect alcohol addiction:

What Parts of the Body are Affected by Long Term Alcohol Abuse?

When a person is in the midst of addiction, they usually aren’t thinking about the long-term impact that drinking can have on their body. Instead, they become consumed with the short-term euphoria that they feel while they’re under the influence.

Brain:

Alcohol will have a direct and instant effect on your brain. Once you drink a certain amount of alcohol, your brain starts to send off different signals due to this influence. Over time, your brain will not be able to regulate the correct type of signaling. This could result in not only brain damage but certain struggles associated with mental illness which is why it’s not uncommon for a person that is suffering from alcoholism to also struggle with mental illness.

Liver:

Alcoholism can be particularly hard on a person’s liver due to the fact that this organ needs to work overtime to digest this substance. When the liver is no longer able to keep up, it can slowly begin to die which can result in a fatty liver or cirrhosis which could be potentially deadly.

Stomach:

Did you know that even when you drink in moderation, alcohol can disrupt your digestive system? Common long-term effects of alcohol abuse on the stomach include bleeding, ulcers, and stomach cancer.

Heart:

Alcohol abuse could leave you more prone to heart disease. The reason for that the heart will have to beat harder and faster to keep up with processing your alcohol consumption which can have an effect on your heart muscles. Ultimately, issues with your heart could lead to serious conditions such as high blood pressures or suffering from a stroke.

When you come to Resurgence for treatment, we can provide you with a more detailed explanation regarding the long-term effects of alcohol abuse on your body.

Get Help for Alcohol Abuse at Resurgence Behavioral Health

The Resurgence Behavioral Health team understands the negative and potentially life-threatening impact that alcohol abuse can have on any person. Whether you’re a family member that is interested in learning more about the effects of long-term alcohol abuse or you are ready to commit yourself to an alcohol rehab program, you can count on our team to assist. When you’re ready to take the first steps toward a new life, we encourage you to reach out to us. We can help you put together a treatment plan that is void of alcohol abuse so that your body can begin to heal from the effects of long-term alcohol abuse. Please give us a call today at (855) 458-0050.

David Rofofsky
After growing up in New York, David chose to get help with substance abuse in California because of the state's reputation for top-tier treatment. There, he found the treatment he needed to achieve more than nine years of recovery. He's been in the drug and alcohol addiction rehab industry for eight years and now serves as the Director of Admissions for Resurgence Behavioral Health. David remains passionate about the field because he understands how hard it is to pick up the phone and ask for help. However, once the call is made, someone's life can be saved.

Research | Editorial