Health Risks of Long-Term Heavy Drinking
Occasional excessive drinking is unlikely to cause lasting harm if you are otherwise healthy. However, regular heavy drinking poses a different risk.
For most men, heavy drinking is defined as consuming more than 4 drinks per day or 14 to 15 drinks per week. For women, it’s more than 3 drinks per day or 7 to 8 drinks per week.
Regular heavy drinking can have numerous negative effects on both physical and mental health.
Liver Damage:
Alcohol is a toxin, and your liver is responsible for removing it from your body. However, if you consume alcohol too quickly or excessively, your liver may struggle to keep up. This can damage liver cells and result in scarring known as cirrhosis. Prolonged heavy drinking can also lead to alcoholic fatty liver disease, indicating that your liver is not functioning properly.
Heart Disease:
You might be aware of the risks associated with blood clots and elevated levels of fats and cholesterol in your body. Alcohol increases the likelihood of both issues. Research on heavy drinkers indicates that they are more prone to difficulties with blood circulation to the heart and may have a higher risk of dying from heart disease.
Brain and Nervous System problems:
Alcohol disrupts the brain’s communication pathways, impairing your ability to think and speak clearly, remember information, make decisions, and coordinate your movements. Heavy drinking can also lead to mental health problems such as depression and dementia. Additionally, it may cause painful nerve damage that can persist even after you’ve sobered up.
Anemia:
This condition occurs when your body produces an insufficient number of healthy red blood cells to transport oxygen effectively. This can lead to issues such as ulcers, inflammation, and other complications. Excessive alcohol consumption may also increase the likelihood of missing meals, potentially resulting in a deficiency of iron in your body.
Cancer:
There is a strong connection between heavy alcohol consumption and various types of cancer. Alcohol can damage cells in the mouth, throat, voice box, and esophagus, and it is associated with cancers of the liver, breast, and intestines. Additionally, alcohol can enhance the absorption of cancer-causing chemicals from tobacco and other sources into your cells.
Sleep:
Drinking heavily might help you fall asleep initially, but once the sedative effects wear off, it can disrupt your sleep and reduce its quality. Frequent binge drinking can make it more difficult to both fall asleep and stay asleep. It can also lead to increased snoring and sleep apnea, which further impairs your ability to get restful sleep.
