Alcohol abuse effects - here are physical effects of alcohol abuse...

Alcohol abuse effects can be physical and psychological for the drinker. The effects of alcohol abuse not only have consequences for the drinker but for those around her or him as well. Alcohol abuse effects can be immediate as well as long term effects of alcohol abuse.

Alcohol consumption causes changes in behavior. Even one or two drinks can impair the judgment and coordination needed to operate a car safely or cause the drinker to engage in aggressive acts, for example.

Alcoholism is an illness where alcoholic beverage consumption is at a level that interferes with the person's health and negatively impacts social, family or occupational responsibilities. Alcohol abusers are drinkers that may drink excessively at various times with resulting immediate alcohol abuse effects at the time of excess alcohol consumption.

The immediate physical effects of alcohol abuse can be experienced as soon as ten minutes after drinking begins. If the consumption continues, the immediate effects of alcohol abuse become worse and more serious.

Here are seven physical alcohol abuse effects based on various blood alcohol concentration levels:

• 1. Inhibitions Become Reduced - at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.05, changes in a person's behavior begins to be noticable. Alcohol abuse effects and reduced inhibitions can put a person at higher risk for actions they would otherwise not participate in, such as sexual activity, continued drinking or illegal drug use.

• 2. Loss of Muscle Control - at the level of 0.10, slurred speech will likely be evident. Impaired judgement and poor coordination are physical effects of alcohol abuse that can lead to falls and accidents.

• 3. Memory Loss and/or Blackouts - since alcohol depresses the brain's control mechanisms, as blood alcohol levels increase, periods of time and certain situations and events may not be remembered afterward.

• 4. Confusion - when blood alcohol levels reach 0.30, the person will act in a confused manner, unable to have a logical conversation, for example.

• 5. Stupor - at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.40, a person can hardly function, acting seriously dazed and disoriented.

• 6. Coma - at a blood alcohol level of 0.50, a person is at risk for coma, which can be life-threatening.

• 7. Death - with blood alcohol levels of 0.60 and higher, respiratory paralysis and death become very much a possibility.

At any of the blood alcohol levels listed above, short-term physical effects of alcohol abuse include nausea, headaches and hangovers. These can be experienced while drinking as well as afterward.

Long term effects of alcohol abuse can result with continued alcohol consumption over years.

For example, malnutrition can develop from a reduced appetite that excessive alcohol consumption can cause. And insufficient absorption of vital nutrients in the intestinal tract and from consuming 'empty' calories in alcohol means the body does not receive the nutrients it requires. Calories from alcohol are called 'empty' calories because the alcohol contains no beneficial nutrients, vitamins or minerals.

If alcohol consumption and abuse continues over years, many of the body organs will likely be negatively affected. Alcohol is especially harmful to the liver since the liver does most of the work of metabolizing alcohol. Alcohol destroys liver cells, and it destroys the ability of liver cells to regenerate. This condition leads to progressive imflammatory injury to the liver and eventually can result in cirrhosis of the liver, a serious disease.

Additional alcoholism abuse effects include damage to the brain, high blood pressure, heart muscle damage, nerve damage, pancreatitis, bleeding in the esophagus, erectile dysfunction in men, birth defects and fetal alcohol syndrome in the offspring of alcoholic women, insomnia, depression and increased cancer risks.

The social consequences of problem drinking and alcohol dependence can be as serious as the medical problems and physical effects. People who abuse or are dependent on alcohol are more likely to lose their job, engage in violent acts and have legal problems. About 50% of all traffic deaths are related to alcohol use.

If you or someone you know may have problems with alcohol and would like to learn more about alcoholism and perhaps seek help, there are proven resources available. It is never too late to begin recovery from alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse effects.

Recommended books for alcohol abuse effects and reading...

This alcoholism abuse effects book presents the stories - when they started drinking, how much they drank, how it affected their lives, why they decided to stop, what they tried, what finally worked for them and their perspective now. The stories are organized according to common themes and strategies. She includes helpful information about different programs available and relevant research studies.

The author chooses to use phrases like drinking problems and alcohol problems rather than alcoholic - she sees alcoholic as outmoded - many of the masters found sobriety through AA, but more found alternative solutions, leading Fletcher to dispute the one-path AA solution.

Recommended alcohol abuse effects products

There is an over-the-counter product called Antabuse that is an alcohol-abuse deterrent used to help overcome drinking problems. Alcohol dependence, or alcoholism, is a common medical illness. Prescription medicines such as ReVia (generic name naltrexone) and Antabuse (disulfiram) are used in combination with other treatments such as counseling and social support programs like Alcoholics Anonymous.

Revia and Antabuse work in very different ways to control alcoholism. ReVia reduces the craving and pleasurable effects associated with alcohol. This, in turn, helps people stop drinking and reduces their risk for relapse. Studies have shown that only one in four people relapse while taking ReVia, while two in four people who don't take ReVia start drinking again. ReVia may also help to reduce the amount of alcohol consumed by people who continue to drink.

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Alcohol is the most common toxic substance encountered in medical cases. Alcohol, like sedatives, depresses the central nervous system. Alcohol impairs performance on a wide variety of measures, ranging from simple reaction time and eye-hand coordination tasks to measures of judgment and ability to perform several tasks simultaneously. Tasks requiring divided attention (e.g. watching for oncoming traffic and changing traffic lights at the same time) are most sensitive to alcohol consumption and alcohol abuse affects.

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