What Health Problems Can Heavy Alcohol Use Cause?

Alcohol is an intoxicating chemical that can affect health. How much alcohol a person drinks, the duration of chronic drinking, genetic factors, sex, body mass, and overall health affect how they respond to alcohol. Drinking small amounts of alcohol can be said to cause little harm. However, drinking large amounts chronically is harmful to health in many ways, and alcohol consumption is a leading cause of death.

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a medical condition in which a person continues to consume alcohol despite adverse health consequences. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), alcohol causes 3 million premature deaths worldwide each year.

Acknowledging an alcohol problem is the first step toward recovery. Many different types of treatment are available for alcohol dependence, including support groups and professional services.

Health problems sometimes thought of as the harms of drinking alcohol every day are associated with heavy and chronic alcohol consumption and are listed below.

A List of the Harms of Alcohol

What Is Alcohol-Induced Psychosis?

Alcohol-induced psychosis, also known as alcoholic hallucinosis, refers to psychotic symptoms—emotional blunting, suspiciousness, restlessness, poor personal care, social isolation, and so on—that a person may experience during or shortly after very heavy drinking. In short, this is what is called a personality change when drinking alcohol .

Alcohol use cannot cause schizophrenia, but alcohol-induced psychosis can cause similar symptoms. The condition often mimics schizophrenia, with symptoms that emerge rapidly and may persist for days to weeks. Although relatively rare, alcohol intoxication, alcohol withdrawal, and long-term alcohol misuse all have the potential to lead to alcohol-induced psychosis.

People who can bring their alcohol consumption under control are unlikely to experience this psychosis again.

Liver Disease

Liver disease describes any condition that damages the liver and affects its function. Alcohol-related liver disease refers specifically to conditions caused by excessive alcohol consumption. The liver is the main organ responsible for metabolizing (processing) alcohol, so it is particularly at risk of damage. During metabolism, the liver converts alcohol into acetaldehyde, a substance that is both toxic and carcinogenic.

Examples of alcohol-related liver disease include:

• Alcohol-related fatty liver disease: Harmful substances derived from alcohol cause damage and inflammation in the liver, leading to excessive fat accumulation.
• Alcohol-related hepatitis: This refers to inflammation of the liver caused by alcohol use.
• Liver fibrosis: This describes the accumulation of certain types of proteins in the liver.
• Cirrhosis: Damage to the liver over a long period can lead to scar tissue that replaces healthy liver cells and seriously affects liver function.

Pancreatitis – Inflammation of the Pancreas

Alcohol can damage the pancreas as well as the liver. Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to pancreatitis, a painful inflammation of the pancreas that often requires hospitalization. Evidence indicates that alcohol is one of the most common causes of pancreatitis.

The inflammation is most likely related to premature activation of proenzymes into pancreatic enzymes, chronic exposure to acetaldehyde, and other chemical activities in the pancreas resulting from alcohol-related injury.

Cancer

A large body of scientific evidence shows that alcohol is carcinogenic. A carcinogen is something that causes cancer. Chronic alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing alcohol-related cancer.

Drinking alcohol increases the risk of the following cancers:

• Mouth
• Neck
• Larynx
• Esophagus
• Colon and rectum
• Liver
• Breast

People who drink alcohol also often use tobacco, and smoking further increases the risk of developing cancers of the upper gastrointestinal and respiratory tracts.

Stomach Ulcers and Other Intestinal Problems

Alcohol may also be a cause of digestive problems. These conditions largely result from damage caused by inflammation and interference with stomach acid secretion. Potential digestive problems include:

• Ulcers and bleeding
• Heartburn and acid reflux
• Swelling, such as esophagitis, gastritis, and duodenitis

Immune System Dysfunction

Evidence highlights the relationship between alcohol consumption and immune system function. Although no adverse effect of low/moderate alcohol intake on the immune system has been reported, chronic consumption of large amounts of alcohol can adversely affect the immune system by reducing the number of immune cells and increasing the risk of infection.

Research indicates a link between heavy alcohol consumption and the risk of pneumonia, tuberculosis, and HIV transmission.

Brain-Related Problems

Alcohol can have toxic effects on the brain and nervous system. Effects on the brain can cause difficulties with thinking skills and coordination. This can increase the risk of traumatic brain injury from a fall or accident. In the US, drunk driving caused 10,142 deaths in 2019.

Regular heavy drinking over many years can also lead to alcohol-related brain damage. This can cause a neurodegenerative condition called Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, which may cause vision problems, difficulty walking, confusion, severe memory loss, and difficulty with everyday tasks.

Malnutrition and Vitamin Deficiencies

Uncontrolled alcohol consumption can also lead to malnutrition and vitamin deficiencies.

Malnutrition is common with heavy alcohol use. Although this is partly due to poor dietary choices, inefficient nutrient metabolism may also play a role. Excessive alcohol consumption causes damage and inflammation in the stomach and digestive system. This may reduce the body's ability to absorb vitamins. In addition, because excessive amounts of alcohol can cause internal bleeding, this may also lead to iron deficiency anemia.

Osteoporosis

Osteoporosis, commonly known as bone loss, refers to reduced bone density, making bones more porous and weak and increasing the risk of fractures. Evidence indicates that alcohol may adversely affect bone health and increase the risk of developing osteoporosis.

Alcohol interferes with calcium balance, vitamin D production, and cortisol levels, potentially weakening bone structure. Because it can also impair coordination, it increases the risk of falls that may cause fractures.

Heart Disease and Cardiovascular Problems

Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to the development of heart conditions. Regularly drinking very large amounts of alcohol can cause a person to develop hypertension (high blood pressure). This is because alcohol can trigger the release of hormones that cause blood vessels to narrow. This can place an extra burden on the heart and lead to cardiovascular (heart and blood vessel) diseases, such as heart failure and heart attack.

Summary

A brief illustrated summary of the harms of alcohol appears below:

Chronic consumption of excessive amounts of alcohol is unquestionably harmful to health and is associated with a range of serious health problems.

Excessive alcohol consumption can damage multiple organs, cause chronic conditions to develop, and increase the risk of dangerous accidents. Therefore, a person should either avoid alcohol or consume it in low/moderate amounts. If a person recognizes that they have a problem with alcohol dependence, they should seek professional help.

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