Do you know the risks of alcohol abuse? It’s estimated that drinking too much alcohol or drinking alcohol on a consistent basis can lead to dangerous health risks. This includes alcohol poisoning. Each year, 88,000 people die as a result of excessive alcohol use, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. At Recovery Ranch PA, we want to ensure you don’t become a victim as well.
The Most Common Risks of Alcohol Abuse
What can drinking too much do to you? The following risks of alcohol abuse can occur when a person drinks too much at one time, called binge drinking, or drinks on a consistent basis over time. It can impact your brain and many other organs in your body. Take a look at some of the most common risks you may face.
Brain Damage
Because regular and frequent alcohol abuse changes brain chemistry, it can have a clearly negative impact on several aspects of brain function. Alcohol impacts the brain’s cognitive function. Memory and thought processes slow down. You may also develop alcohol use disorder, a condition in which you have a physical addiction to alcohol and cannot stop drinking without help. Addiction is a life-threatening condition in itself.
Heart Damage
Drinking alcohol can lead to numerous changes to the heart. Individuals may experience:
- High blood pressure
- Increased risk of strokes
- Cardiomyopathy, damage to the heart muscle limiting its function
- Arrhythmias, which can be life-threatening irregular heartbeats
- Sudden death from heart attacks
Liver Damage and Cancer
Alcohol abuse can lead to damage to the liver in various ways. Because the liver is the primary organ that handles alcohol when it enters the body, it usually suffers the illest effects. This includes the development of diseases such as cirrhosis, steatosis (fatty liver), fibrosis, and alcoholic hepatitis. These conditions are chronic and rarely reversible. Thus, each one of these can shorten your lifespan. Also, alcohol abuse can cause cancer in various ways. For instance, some of the cancers alcohol abuse has been associated with and a contributing factor to include:
- Neck and head-related cancers including those of the oral cavity, throat, and larynx
- Liver cancer
- Breast cancer
- Esophageal cancer
- Colorectal cancer
In addition to these risks of alcohol abuse, you may also struggle with immune system complications leaving you at risk for developing infections that become life-threatening. You may also develop pancreas disease.
What You Can Do Today if You’re at Risk
The risks of alcohol abuse are very high for those who drink on a constant basis even if you are enjoying just one drink a day with friends. There is help available to you at Recovery Ranch PA. For instance, we provide the following among many other treatments and programs:
- Alcohol detox programs
- Inpatient alcohol treatment
- Outpatient alcohol treatment
- Dual diagnosis treatment for underlying mental health conditions
- Rehab aftercare support
For those with an alcohol use disorder, treatment is the only way to find your way toward healing and health. You do not have to suffer from these conditions. Many times, breaking your addiction and working with your team to heal your body can help you avoid these types of outcomes. Being proactive and aggressive in your treatment is the first step in getting the care you need.
Find Treatment for the Risks of Alcohol Abuse at Recovery Ranch PA
What you’re facing in alcohol abuse doesn’t have to define your future. At Recovery Ranch PA, we want to help you understand the risks of alcohol abuse while providing you with the tools and resources to help you heal. Learn more about how we can help you by calling717.969.9126 and speaking to our compassionate counselors.
