At what point does a glass of wine to unwind after a long day become a problem? Here’s a quick explanation of how you can tell when your drinking has become a problem, as well as the devastating effects it can have on your body.
Drinking for Enjoyment
Drinking alcohol causes the release of endorphins or hormones that increase your feeling of pleasure. However, this pleasurable feeling can cause you to drink more than you should. Drinking more than 5 standard drinks in a single sitting is harmful to your health and could even result in an overdose.
A standard drink contains around 14 grams of pure alcohol.
Long-Term Alcohol Use
There is no definitive definition for long-term alcohol use. Some individuals can drink alcohol several times a week for years, even decades, without any adverse effects. Others may develop health problems within just a few weeks of drinking regularly. Regardless, drinking too much can cause health problems and result in dependence.
For women, consuming more than one standard drink per day can lead to alcohol abuse and dependence. For men, this increases to two standard drinks per day.
Anyone who is addicted to alcohol will feel a compulsion to drink. Over time, they will need more and more. Before long, quitting is not an option because their need for alcohol supersedes all others. At this point, treatment for an alcohol addiction may be necessary.
Alcohol Intoxication
This occurs when you drink more alcohol than your body can metabolize. A person is labelled alcohol intoxicated when they begin to exhibit the following symptoms.
- Lack of coordination and/ or attention
- Involuntary eye movements
- Impaired memory
- Slurred speech
- Coma
As the alcohol leaves your system, you should begin to return to the state you were in before you started drinking. As this happens, you may feel physically uncomfortable or mentally discontent. You may experience sweating, headaches, nausea, vomiting, and/ or aching limbs. You may urinate more due to the large amount of alcohol in your system, putting you at risk of dehydration. This, in turn, may result in headaches and low energy.
The Effects of Prolonged Alcohol Abuse
The prolonged use of alcohol can have devastating consequences for your health. For example,
- Liver damage or cirrhosis
- High blood pressure and/ or stroke
- Pancreatitis
- Cancers of the liver, mouth, and/ or oesophagus
- Sudden death related to heart disease
- Increased risk of miscarriage, fatal alcohol syndrome, or premature birth in pregnant women
- Accidental injury that may result in death or suicide
If you are struggling with alcohol dependence and attempt to greatly reduce your intake or quit drinking suddenly, you are likely to experience detox symptoms, also known as alcohol withdrawal syndrome. This is because the regular consumption of alcohol creates changes in your nervous system’s functioning. In fact, to accommodate the chemicals in alcohol, your brain will alter its chemistry.
Without medical intervention, detox symptoms can severely impair your health. As a result, entering an alcohol detox program that provides medical supervision is highly recommended.