You may have heard that a drink or two is not bad for your health. But consuming too much alcohol over a long period of time has dangerous effects on your body and life.
First, it’s important to understand what too much alcohol is.
What is alcohol abuse?
Simply put, when drinking causes distress or harm or disrupts a person’s life, this is considered alcohol use disorder. Many people aren’t aware they’re abusing alcohol. They believe their drinking is safe because they can’t see or feel any of alcohol’s negative effects. But, in fact, alcohol is destroying their body.
Here are 10 shocking effects of alcohol abuse that everyone should know.
Increases cancer risk
The more you drink, the more you raise your risk for cancer. That’s because alcohol affects your body’s DNA and makes your body’s cells more prone to growing out of control.
Specifically, alcohol increases your risk of these six cancers:
- Breast (in women)
- Colon and rectum
- Esophagus
- Mouth and throat
- Liver
- Voice box (larynx)
Causes liver damage
Long-term alcohol abuse can lead to alcoholic liver disease, a condition in which the liver swells (hepatitis). Over time, this can lead to scarring and malfunction of the liver, which is irreversible. Just two ounces of absolute alcohol per day long-term increases your risk of developing this debilitating condition.
Increases depression
Alcohol abusers may find themselves depressed often. Long-term alcohol abuse can worsen depression. Then, users find themselves in a toxic cycle where they attempt to “treat” their depression with more alcohol, leading them to being even more depressed.
Increases the risk of suicide
Along with depression, alcohol may lead to an increase in suicidal thoughts and completing suicide. Several studies have proven that alcohol is a risk factor for suicide, especially in young adults. This is because alcohol can impair your thoughts and lead to poor impulse control and impaired judgement.
Causes sleep problems
When people want a good night’s rest, they often turn to an alcoholic drink. Yes – alcohol may help people fall asleep more quickly, but in the long run, alcohol is disruptive to your sleep cycle. Drinking alcohol before you sleep can also cause sleep apnea, or pauses in breathing during sleep.
Affects your career and salary
Often, when people have problems at work, alcoholism is an underlying factor. Alcohol abuse can lead to oversleeping, mood disorders, impaired physical coordination, and misjudgment – all of which can affect someone’s performance at work. Even further, one study showed that alcoholics earned lower salaries than their non-alcoholic colleagues.
Leads to early death
Sadly, alcohol is the root cause for the deaths of many young people. Specifically, alcohol accounts for 13.5 percent of deaths among people ages 20-39.
Don’t let alcohol abuse decrease your quality of life. Mallard Lake Detox Center is a luxury rehab in Houston that helps individuals overcome alcohol addiction. We offer compassionate treatment in a professional environment. Call (936) 800-8025 or complete our online form to get started.
Sources
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2872355/
https://www.cdc.gov/cancer/alcohol/index.htm
https://www.healthline.com/health/mental-health/alcohol-and-depression