Alcohol abuse has become the third leading cause of preventable deaths in the United States. According to the National Survey on Drug Use and Health, approximately 70% of people reported they drank alcohol. While a further 50% reported that they drank occasionally. The severe biological effects of alcoholism can lead to permanent brain damage or even death.
Many alcoholics don’t even know that they suffer from alcohol addiction. This is one of the main reasons why alcoholism is the main untreated form of drug addiction. Furthermore, one does not need to be an alcoholic for the effects to be permanent. Even a period of inconsistent drinking may result in serious damage to various body organs.
Reach out to the alcohol detox center in South Florida to counteract the biological effects of alcoholism.
Short-Term Biological Effects of Alcoholism
When a person consumes a lot of alcohol in a short period, it can have severe effects on the body. Some of these effects are short-term and they include:
- Skin flushing
- Vomiting
- Passing out
- Loss of concentration
- Increased blood pressure
- Dulled perception
- Mood swings
- Lower core body temperature
These effects usually pass as the person regains their sobriety. The severity of these short-term effects on the body depends on several factors such as the person’s age, weight, and liver function.
Long-Term Biological Effects of Alcoholism
Long-term abuse of alcohol results in serious damages to various organs of the body. The major organs heavily impacted by long-term alcohol abuse include the heart, brain, liver, and stomach.
Long-term use of alcohol may lead to serious heart conditions such as cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, and high blood pressure. Alcoholism may lead to memory loss, learning difficulties, shrinking frontal lobes of the brain, and mood and behavioral changes.
Effects on the liver include cirrhosis, alcoholic hepatitis, fatty liver, and fibrosis. It’s not uncommon for an alcoholic person to complain of painful ulcers, gas, and bloating. Alcohol abuse severely limits your immune system and makes you more susceptible to various infections.
Long-term abuse of alcohol may also be a risk factor in the occurrence of various types of cancer. These are mainly colorectal cancer, liver cancer, esophageal cancer, head, and neck cancer.
Physical dependency comes with extensive consumption of alcohol. This is where the person’s ability to function is severely limited without consuming alcohol. It may also impair an individual’s reproductive system.
Alcohol poisoning is another biological effect of alcoholism. It can occur when an individual’s blood alcohol concentration rises yet they have stopped drinking.
Programs Offered for Alcohol Abuse Treatment at Summit Detox
The biological effects of alcoholism may become permanent if you don’t seek help. The programs offered at Summit Detox include:
- Medical detox program: This program involves the use of closely monitored medications to help manage withdrawal symptoms.
- Inpatient and outpatient program: Inpatient detox is usually given to patients with a long history of alcohol addiction and severe withdrawal symptoms. Outpatient programs are great for treating manageable withdrawal symptoms.
- Opioid or opiate detox programs: Alcohol abuse usually co-occurs in association with various opiates. This program is suitable for treating patients with opiate addiction.
- Extended care program: This program focuses on providing continuous care to the patient. It features advanced medical procedures. It also includes innovative remedies to reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms.
- Alcohol detox program: This program is specifically designed to meet the needs of people suffering from alcohol addiction. It is also used for non-addicted alcohol abuse.
Get Help at Our Detox Facility
The biological effects of alcoholism are treatable. But the first step is alcohol detox. Don’t try to detox alone, as you may end up suffering severe withdrawal symptoms. Contact Summit Detox by calling (888) 995-5265 and let’s overcome alcohol addiction together.
