Before you sip that drink, you need to read this guide on everything you need to know about the connection between alcohol and health.
We cannot deny there is a link between alcohol and health.
Alcohol is the third leading preventable cause of death in the United States. An estimated 88,000 people die from alcohol-related causes every year.
Occasionally indulging in a few cocktails shouldn’t impair your health. However, frequent alcohol consumption leads to illnesses, injuries, and, in severe circumstances, death.
Let’s explore the link between alcohol and health, as well as the warning signs of alcohol abuse.
The Connection Between Alcohol and Health
What you drink impacts your whole body. Excessive drinking is categorized as:
- Five or more drinks within two hours for men
- Four or more drinks within two hours for women
Frequent heavy drinking impairs your physical, mental, and emotional well-being.
How Alcohol Affects Your Body
There is a finite connection between alcohol and heart health.
Alcohol raises triglyceride levels, which are fats cells in our blood. High triglyceride rates inflate cholesterol and fat buildups within the artery walls. This increases your risk of blood clotting, stroke, and heart failure.
In addition to heart complications, heavy drinking can lead to:
- Breast, mouth, throat, liver, or colon cancer
- Digestive problems
- Liver disease
- Type 2 diabetes
- Weight gain and obesity
Overconsumption of alcohol raises your risk of disabilities and premature death. Alcohol is a factor in over 200 diseases and injuries.
How Alcohol Affects Your Mind
There is a link between alcohol and mental health.
Alcoholic beverages block chemical signals between neurons (brain cells). The blockages lead to feelings of intoxication, such as slow reflexes, slurred speech, and memory lapses.
Heavy drinkers may continue to experience mental issues even when they are sober. As the brain goes into overdrive to offset the alcohol’s imbalances, a person may experience memory lapses, trouble focusing, lack of motivation, and brain fog.
How Alcohol Affects Your Emotions
Prolonged drinking offsets brain chemistry, raising your risk of mental and emotional problems.
One of the most common side effects of alcohol is depression and anxiety. While alcohol may temporarily relieve stress and depression symptoms, it ultimately worsens a person’s mental health in the long-run.
Researchers have determined that alcoholism doubles a person’s risk of developing a depressive disorder.
Signs of Alcohol Addiction
The warning signs of alcohol abuse include:
- Feeling the need to drink to get through your day
- Finding reasons to drink
- Experiencing blackouts or memory lapses
- Drinking in secrecy or lying about drinking
- Feeling unhealthy when not drinking
- Appearance changes (such as weight gain or lack of hygiene)
- Feeling isolated from friends or family members
- Mood swings and irritability
- Loss of motivation or interest in work and hobbies
If you’re worried about how alcohol is affecting your health, help is available.
Alcoholism is a scary disease, but treatments are effective. Americans have access to some of the best outpatient rehab in the world. These facilities help people overcome their addictions and enable them to live a healthy, sober lifestyle.
Lifestyle Updates at Your Fingertips
The connection between alcohol and health cannot be ignored.
While it’s fine to indulge in a few drinks from time-to-time, binge drinking leads to physical, mental, and emotional complications.
Recognize the link between alcohol and health. If you’re worried about your well-being, treatments are available.
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