The effects of alcohol abuse are wide-ranging.
That, in part, is what makes identifying an alcoholic so difficult.
People react differently to alcohol, build up a tolerance at different rates, and reach "abuse" at different times.
However, there are some fairly common health effects that come as a result of alcohol abuse.
You may recognize one or more of these in yourself or someone you care about.
Alcohol is a depressant that acts on the central nervous system.
It can take effect anywhere from a few minutes to several hours after the actual drinking, depending on the amount of food in someone's system, body size, and other factors.
At first alcohol can make you feel relaxed, like you have fewer worries.
However, your judgment is already impaired at this point.
Even if you're not over the legal limit, driving at this point is dangerous.
You won't react with appropriate speed to things like traffic lights or objects in the roadway.
You could very easily end up in an accident, perhaps even kill someone.
Even if you don't give yourself a traumatic, or sudden-onset injury from a car accident, tripping, or falling due to the effects of alcohol consumption, long-term alcohol abuse can have just as devastating effects on your body.
The most well-known is cirrhosis, or scarring, of the liver.
When your liver has scarring from long-term alcohol abuse, it doesn't digest food, clean your blood, or make protein to give you energy.
Once your liver function decreases you feel tired, possibly sick.
You may lose weight.
Some people with liver cirrhosis subsequently develop liver cancer.
Your blood pressure will probably go up.
If you're already on blood-pressure medication, your impaired liver may not break it down well because of your drinking.
So your blood pressure medication won't work as well, and the alcohol is raising your blood pressure even more.
You're looking at a much higher potential for a stroke.
Your appearance will likely change.
Substituting alcohol for foods with actual nutritional value can have an effect on your teeth and gums, skin, muscle tone and weight.
You may begin to have problems sexually.
Especially for men, the effects of alcohol abuse can have an almost immediate effect on their ability to perform--Viagra or not.
And those are just some of the physical symptoms.
Once alcohol is in your body it circulates in your bloodstream.
Your brain will be affected.
Long-term use of this powerful depressant can make you anxious, nervous, and irritable.
Your moods may swing in a much broader range, with your lows being much lower than when you were sober.
You may tend to be more violent.
You are at a much higher risk for suicide when you abuse alcohol.
There are so many negative effects from alcohol abuse that any move toward sobriety is a step in the right direction.
That, in part, is what makes identifying an alcoholic so difficult.
People react differently to alcohol, build up a tolerance at different rates, and reach "abuse" at different times.
However, there are some fairly common health effects that come as a result of alcohol abuse.
You may recognize one or more of these in yourself or someone you care about.
Alcohol is a depressant that acts on the central nervous system.
It can take effect anywhere from a few minutes to several hours after the actual drinking, depending on the amount of food in someone's system, body size, and other factors.
At first alcohol can make you feel relaxed, like you have fewer worries.
However, your judgment is already impaired at this point.
Even if you're not over the legal limit, driving at this point is dangerous.
You won't react with appropriate speed to things like traffic lights or objects in the roadway.
You could very easily end up in an accident, perhaps even kill someone.
Even if you don't give yourself a traumatic, or sudden-onset injury from a car accident, tripping, or falling due to the effects of alcohol consumption, long-term alcohol abuse can have just as devastating effects on your body.
The most well-known is cirrhosis, or scarring, of the liver.
When your liver has scarring from long-term alcohol abuse, it doesn't digest food, clean your blood, or make protein to give you energy.
Once your liver function decreases you feel tired, possibly sick.
You may lose weight.
Some people with liver cirrhosis subsequently develop liver cancer.
Your blood pressure will probably go up.
If you're already on blood-pressure medication, your impaired liver may not break it down well because of your drinking.
So your blood pressure medication won't work as well, and the alcohol is raising your blood pressure even more.
You're looking at a much higher potential for a stroke.
Your appearance will likely change.
Substituting alcohol for foods with actual nutritional value can have an effect on your teeth and gums, skin, muscle tone and weight.
You may begin to have problems sexually.
Especially for men, the effects of alcohol abuse can have an almost immediate effect on their ability to perform--Viagra or not.
And those are just some of the physical symptoms.
Once alcohol is in your body it circulates in your bloodstream.
Your brain will be affected.
Long-term use of this powerful depressant can make you anxious, nervous, and irritable.
Your moods may swing in a much broader range, with your lows being much lower than when you were sober.
You may tend to be more violent.
You are at a much higher risk for suicide when you abuse alcohol.
There are so many negative effects from alcohol abuse that any move toward sobriety is a step in the right direction.