Last but not least in this category, we’ve got the sleep shenanigans. Alcohol might help you pass out quickly, but it wreaks havoc on your sleep quality. Insomnia, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ frequent waking, and daytime fatigue are common complaints among those struggling with alcohol addiction.

Ocean State Recovery

Heavy drinking can lead to easy bruising and bleeding, and not just because you’re more prone to falling and hitting table corners when drunk. Alcohol hepatitis can lead to liver failure and can also gradually damage the liver and lead to cirrhosis. Cirrhosis is when normal liver tissue is replaced by scar tissue, which causes the liver to lose its ability to function well. Support groups such as Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) and Self-Management And Recovery Training (SMART) are open to anyone with a substance use disorder. These programs organize your treatment session based on your schedule.

The Life-Saving Power of Staying Connected: Why Alumni Programs Prevent Returning to Use

Research shows a high correlation between alcohol misuse and high-risk sexual behavior, violence, crime, self-injury, and fatal injury from things like motor vehicle accidents. People with AUD represent about 20–35 percent of completed suicides. Alcohol flush is a type of alcohol intolerance that happens because of an enzyme mutation in the body.

Increased appetite and poor dietary choices

If AUD is not treated, it can increase your risk for serious health problems. After completing treatment for AUD, it’s possible to have a risk of relapse. It’s important to recognize warning signs and seek help if you’re concerned about having a relapse.

• In fact, the misuse of alcohol can have a tremendous impact upon the body’s digestive system.
• Interestingly, Princeton University scientists found that the same chemical trigger that produces high-fat food cravings (galanin) may increase the desire for alcohol.
• Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website.
• It centers on being more conscious and thoughtful of how much, how often, and why you drink.
• Alcohol dilates your blood vessels, which can cause temporary redness and a flushed appearance.

People who experience this side effect have a mutation of aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2), a detoxifying acetaldehyde. Too much drinking can also cause broken capillaries in your face. The result is telangiectasias, or permanent spider veins, in the face, neck, and chest. Individuals may avoid social interactions or withdraw from previously close relationships, fearing judgement or confrontation about their alcohol use. These changes in brain chemistry also affect mood, memory, and decision-making processes. The reward system in the brain becomes increasingly hijacked, with dopamine release being more closely tied to alcohol consumption.

Some people have a decreased appetite for food and begin to lose weight. You may also experience weight gain because you crave high-fat foods. Interestingly, Princeton University scientists found that the same chemical trigger that produces high-fat food cravings (galanin) may increase the desire for alcohol. Don’t wait until a person has more than six symptoms before seeking treatment.

People who are daily or heavy drinkers may need medical support to quit. Stopping drinking abruptly can lead to seizures and can even be fatal. People with alcohol use disorder should be monitored by a medical professional when withdrawing from alcohol. Moderate to heavy drinkers can also benefit from medical supervision in the acute withdrawal stage. This is thanks to the same Substance abuse enlarged blood vessels that cause facial redness. Alcohol also affects your sleep, resulting in dark circles, puffy eyes, and worsened hangover symptoms.

It’s not a definite diagnosis, but it can help you figure out whether you or someone you love has an addiction to alcohol. If you notice a loved one struggling with a drinking problem, consider staging an intervention to halt this destructive cycle. Women are more likely to develop serious diseases like osteoporosis and pancreatitis. These issues will likely happen because alcohol will affect a woman’s menstrual cycle. Large fluctuations in hormonal levels can cause the body to go haywire. Alcoholism affects not only the alcoholic but also those around them as well.

• Psychological alcohol dependence, known as alcohol addiction or alcohol use disorder (AUD).
• Poor personal hygiene and an unkempt appearance are often indicative of an individual’s neglect of their overall health.
• These physical changes become more apparent in the late stages of alcoholism, with individuals experiencing frequent illnesses or unexplainable aches and pains.
• Support groups can be the first step towards recovery or part of a long-term aftercare plan.
• Bilirubin is a chemical that is released when red blood cells break down.

As we’ve explored, these signs can manifest in various ways, from visible physical changes to subtle behavioral shifts. In Massachusetts, where 17.5% of adults report excessive drinking, understanding these indicators is particularly vital. Alcohol is a vasodilator, meaning it causes blood vessels to relax and widen. While this may initially increase blood flow, long-term heavy drinking can damage blood vessel linings. This impairs circulation, reducing oxygen and nutrient delivery to hair follicles and nail beds.

If you’re worried that you might have alcohol use disorder, don’t try physical signs of alcoholism to quit cold turkey on your own. Excessive drinking within a short period causes the liver to slow its processing of fat. Steatosis, commonly called fatty liver, is the accumulation of fat in the liver. Alcoholics in the final stages of their illness experience malnutrition, impaired concentration and memory, hallucinations, convulsions and shaking.