Alcohol

Alcohol Addiction Effects on the Body

Your liver metabolizes alcohol and then sends it to your brain and other organs through the bloodstream. Your liver can absorb only a small amount of alcohol at a time, leaving the rest to circulate throughout the body. Alcohol is considered a central nervous system depressant and it reduces your heart rate and breathing and slows brain activity. This affects your brain’s ability to respond to messages and function normally.

The effects of alcohol addiction on your body begin immediately. You will experience:

• Reduced inhibitions
• Confusion
• Slurred speech
• Reduced reaction time
• Loss of coordination
• Loss of body heat despite feelings of warmth

Long-term alcohol addiction and abuse causes these effects:

• Liver cirrhosis (scarring)
• Inflammation of the pancreas
• Cancers (liver, mouth, throat, larynx)
• Unintentional injuries
• Depression

Drinking large quantities of alcohol in a short period of time (binging), can cause alcohol poisoning, even the first time. Alcohol poisoning can be extremely dangerous and can lead to death if not treated early.

Body’s response to alcohol poisoning can include:

• Loss of consciousness
• Vomiting
• Seizures
• Dangerously low blood sugar levels
• Difficulty breathing

Signs of Alcohol Addiction

Alcohol addiction is considered a chronic, progressive disease. There is no specific amount of alcohol required to become addicted. Recognizing warning signs of alcohol addiction can help greatly in lessening damage done to your body.

You may be showing signs of alcohol addiction if:

• You can’t quit drinking or control how much you drink.
• You need to drink more to get the same effect.
• You have withdrawal symptoms when you stop drinking.
• Your relationships have been affected because of your drinking.
• You continue drinking even though you are experiencing health issues.
• You drink alone and at all hours of the day.
• You feel guilty after drinking.
• You make excuses for your drinking.
• You hide your drinking from family and friends.
• You stock up on alcohol to avoid running out. The thought of running out of alcohol makes you panic.
• You have physical signs of alcohol dependence, including weight loss, upset stomach or redness of the nose and cheeks.

If you identify with any of these signs, get it touch with one of our addiction specialists.

Safely Breaking Free from Alcohol Addiction

Cleaning your body of the alcohol toxins is important for your health. You should not abruptly stop drinking alcohol and should never try to detox alone because alcohol withdrawal can be dangerous and even fatal.

The withdrawal symptoms can range in severity, depending on the frequency and amount of alcohol you drink.

Some of the symptoms are:

A severe form of alcohol withdrawal called delirium tremens can cause:

• Agitation
• Severe confusion
• Hallucinations
• Fever
• Seizures

The best way to ensure your safety is if you seek treatment at a medical alcohol detox center. After you complete detox, rehab is important to continue your treatment. In an alcohol rehab center, you will learn to use the tools you need to help you manage cravings and build a relapse prevention plan.

If you are pregnant and addicted to alcohol, you should immediately seek professional medical assistance. Drinking alcohol when you are pregnant is harmful for your baby. It can cause fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS), which harms your baby’s development. It can cause defects to your baby’s heart, brain and other organs, vision and hearing problems, low birth weight, learning disabilities and behavioral problems.

Alcohol Addiction Treatment – Getting Help Now

Recovery Connection cares about your well-being. Our addiction specialists are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to answer all your questions and connect you with an accredited rehab center. Recovery Connection only works with alcohol addiction treatment centers that offer medically supervised detox and personalized alcohol addiction treatment programs.

Don’t let another minute pass you by, it could mean your life. Recovery Connection is here to help; all it takes is one phone call.