Whether an individual has an alcohol addiction or continuously binge drinks, they are still putting their health at risk. Alcohol is a toxin that negatively affects many different parts of our bodies when consumed in mass amounts for long periods of time. Prolonged alcohol abuse and a lack of continued care may lead to serious health complications and an increased risk for certain cancers. Alcohol use disorder can affect anyone, regardless of background or lifestyle. If you grew up around addiction, started drinking at a heroin addiction young age (especially before age 15) or have experienced trauma or ongoing stress, your risk of developing an alcohol use disorder may be higher. Mental health conditions like anxiety, depression or PTSD can also increase the likelihood of developing a dependence on alcohol.
What should I do if I think that I might have an alcohol use disorder (AUD)?
Your outlook may also improve depending on other treatments you receive, such as medication or surgery. The muscles that control the lower chambers of your heart, the left and right ventricle, are especially prone to this kind of stretching. These chambers are important as they do the majority of the work of your heart, with the right ventricle pumping blood to your lungs and the left ventricle pumping blood to your entire body. Weakening in the muscles around the ventricles means they can’t pump as hard, which negatively affects your entire body. In terms of all alcohol tests, PEth is second to the detection of ethyl glucuronide (EtG – another direct metabolite of ethanol) in hair alcohol testing.
What Is Considered a Heavy Drinker?
- Alcohol withdrawal syndrome can produce life-threatening symptoms, but safe, medical detox can be done in a treatment facility.
- Alcoholics Anonymous® (also known as “AA”) and other 12-step programs provide peer support for people quitting or cutting back on their drinking.
- Professional, evidence-based treatments for alcohol use disorder are available — you just have to ask for help.
At this stage, a person is experiencing multiple problems or dangers in their life due to alcohol misuse. People with moderate AUD often benefit from inpatient residential programs or more intensive treatment options. The early alcohol misuse stage covers a wide range of drinking patterns, including occasional irresponsible use, excessive drinking, or a diagnosable mild AUD. Heavy alcohol use raises the risk for fractures and even low levels of alcohol intake increase the odds for recurrent gout attacks. Alcohol also impairs bone fracture repair and reduces bone density.
Medical Detox
You may not see it https://ecosoberhouse.com/ as a problem yet, but this is where dependence can quietly begin. If you’re starting to question whether your drinking or someone else’s might be a problem, pay attention to that instinct. Many people wrestle with quiet concerns—feeling anxious, guilty or unsure of what’s normal.
- Being part of the recovery process means staying informed, providing emotional support, and encouraging treatment adherence.
- Alcohol misuse can also lead to high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), or increased heart rate.
- Healthcare providers diagnose the condition by doing a physical examination to look for symptoms of conditions that alcohol use disorder may cause.
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This leads to them consistently upping their alcohol intake during each binge leading the cycle to continue the more they partake in this what is a chronic drinker behavior, even though they may be able to stop during the week. Mutual-support groups provide peer support for stopping or reducing drinking. Group meetings are available in most communities at low or no cost, and at convenient times and locations—including an increasing presence online. This means they can be especially helpful to individuals at risk for return to drinking.