Those who drink to excess, frequently misuse alcohol, or are diagnosed with an alcohol use disorder (AUD) may be at risk for significant long-term health conditions. Indeed, of the nearly 14.4 million Americans who had a diagnosable AUD in the year 2017, only an estimated 1.1 million received dedicated substance use treatment.^1,2 Whether you’re actively struggling with alcohol addiction or are concerned about your alcohol use, it’s important to understand the health risks of alcohol.

Short-Term Effects Of Alcohol on the Body

Although a person may not be abusing alcohol regularly, they can still experience its short-term effects on the mind and body. The liver can metabolize about one standard drink of alcohol per hour.³However, this can vary depending on a number of factors, including the individual’s age, weight, liver function, and gender.⁹Typically, consuming more than one beverage per hour can lead to intoxication, raising an individual’s blood alcohol content (BAC) with each drink.³

The effects of alcohol can range from mild, such as skin flushing, to more severe symptoms such as passing out or vomiting.

Other short-term effects of alcohol can include:^3,4,13

Lowered inhibitions, leading to poor social judgment.
Trouble concentrating.
Loss of coordination.
Loss of critical judgements.
Dulled perception, especially vision.
Mood swings.
Reduced core body temperature.
Raised blood pressure.
Passing out.
Vomiting.

Long-Term Effects Of Alcohol on the Body

Drinking too much over time can cause chronic physical and mental health issues. Heavy drinking can cause or contribute to liver damage, cardiovascular disease, and multiple types of cancer.^5,7,13

Long-term effects of excessive drinking may include:^5,11,13,16

Diminished gray matter and white matter in the brain.
Memory loss.
Loss of attention span.
Trouble learning.
Alcoholic hepatitis.
Liver fibrosis.
Steatosis (i.e., fatty liver disease).
Throat, mouth, larynx, breast, liver, colorectal, or esophageal cancer.
High blood pressure.
Cardiomyopathy.
Stroke.
Irregular heart beat.

What is Binge Drinking?

Binge drinking is a dangerous practice that can cause physical harm. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) classifies binge drinking as a drinking pattern that leads to a blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level of 0.08 g/dL and above.⁶ For adult women, that’s typically around 4 drinks (5 for adult men) within a couple of hours of each other.⁶

Alcohol Poisoning

Binge drinking can lead to alcohol poisoning. Alcohol poisoning occurs when the body has consumed more alcohol in a short period of time than it can process. The toxic effects of alcohol overwhelm the body and can lead to impairment and some even more serious medical side effects, including death in severe cases.

Signs of alcohol poisoning include:¹⁸

Confusion.
Nausea and vomiting.
Slowed or irregular breathing.
Cyanosis, or a blue-tinted skin.
Pale skin.
Low body temperature, or hypothermia.
Unconsciousness.
Seizures.

It is extremely important to call 911 if you feel a person is experiencing alcohol poisoning. Alcohol poisoning can cause permanent brain damage and even death. A person’s BAC can keep rising after they stop drinking and even after they pass out.¹⁸

Effects of Alcoholism on the Body

Alcoholism and chronic heavy drinking are associated with many serious health problems.⁵ Below are some of the ways alcohol may affect the body:

Liver health risks: One of the possible severe medical consequences of chronic alcohol abuse is liver disease. Over time, with consistent alcohol abuse, the liver may become inflamed and/or scarred. Conditions such as fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, fibrosis, and cirrhosis may develop. A person may also develop liver cancer.^5,7,8
Digestive system risks: Alcohol can wear down the lining of the stomach and increase the production of stomach acid, which can contribute to ulcers.²⁴ Alcohol may also alter nutrient breakdown, absorption, transportation, storage, and excretion, leading to nutrient deficiencies and/or trouble fully using nutrients. For example, thiamine deficiency is common and can lead to serious neurological issues. Alcohol can also impair blood sugar control.¹⁰
Pancreatic health risks: Alcohol prompts pancreatic production of harmful substances, which can lead to pancreatitis. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas that impairs digestion.⁵
Brain health risks: Thiamine, or vitamin B1, deficiency associated with chronic heavy drinking can lead to Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome or ‘Wet Brain’. Symptoms may include confusion, impaired coordination, learning problems, and memory difficulties. Liver disease can also harm the brain, resulting in symptoms such as sleep changes, alterations in mood, personality changes, depression, anxiety, impaired concentration, and incoordination. Too much alcohol may also hinder new brain cell growth.¹⁶
Cardiovascular health risks: Drinking alcohol has complicated impacts on cardiovascular health. In 2016, alcohol-related CV diseases caused an estimated 593,000 deaths globally.¹² Consuming too much alcohol is linked to high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, trouble pumping blood through the body, blood clots, stroke, cardiomyopathy (sagging, stretched heart muscle), or heart attack.^5,13 Excessive alcohol use, both directly and through malnutrition, can also lead to anemia.¹⁹
Reproductive health risks: Consuming too much alcohol can lead to reproductive problems, including erectile dysfunction and irregular menstruation.²⁰ Both men and women may have reduced fertility with long-term, heavy drinking.²¹ Women who drink while pregnant are at increased risk for miscarriage, stillbirth, or having a child with a fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD).¹⁴
Musculoskeletal health risks: Alcohol abuse can cause a calcium imbalance in the body, which is an important nutrient to maintain healthy bones. Consuming too much alcohol can also cause a disruption to the production of vitamin D, which is needed for calcium absorption. Lack of calcium increases the risk of osteoporosis. Osteoporosis increases the risk of bone fractures, which can cause serious pain and disability.¹⁵

Psychological Effects of Alcohol

When it comes to the brain, alcohol acts as a depressant to the CNS. However, it can have inconsistent effects, exciting users under some conditions and sedating users under other conditions. Excitement, typically at lower doses, may be due to alcohol suppressing the inhibitory parts of the brain. Functions such as breathing, speech, thought, memory, and movement can be impacted by consuming alcohol. Mental effects may include mood changes, decreased inhibitions, relaxation, impaired judgment, slowed reaction times, difficulty remembering, confusion, and loss of consciousness.³Chronic use of alcohol can lead to changes in the brain, as described in previous sections.

Excessive alcohol use, even if not chronic, can lead to alcohol-induced psychiatric syndromes, such as alcohol-induced depressive disorder, alcohol-induced bipolar disorder, alcohol-induced sleep disorder, alcohol-induced psychotic disorder, and more.^17,22These disorders are temporary and can occur after significant intoxication and/or withdrawal.²²

Alcohol use disorder is also linked to several mental illnesses which can develop separately from the disorder and may even predate it, such as major depression, some anxiety disorders, schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, and others.¹⁷ These disorders may increase the likelihood of alcohol-related issues, possibly due, in part, to using alcohol as a self-medicating substance.^17,23There also may be common underlying risk factors that increase the likelihood of both substance use disorders and mental illnesses.²³

Finding Treatment for Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol use disorders occur on a spectrum, and each person is unique. If you or someone you know is ready to discuss treatment, our admissions navigators are available 24/7 to speak with you today at . The type of treatment that will be most suitable for you will likely be influenced by your alcohol history, other substance use history, previous attempts at treatment, any co-occurring medical and/or mental health conditions, and your current situation.

For further information on treatment during the pandemic, we’ve put together a guide that answers some of our most frequently asked questions:

As the leader in addiction treatment American Addiction Centers specializes in helping people recover from alcohol addiction. If you are looking for more information about alcohol addiction, find some useful information for those seeking guidance; or you can learn more about insurance coverage and instantly verify insurance with an AAC facility.

Effects of Alcohol on Your Body