Alcoholism Physical Symptoms

Alcoholism in General

Around 15 percent of people who drink alcohol will eventually become addicted or an alcoholic even if they start out drinking normal quantities like other people. Studies show that while drinking is scientifically a sedative, meaning it depresses body functions, it does create a temporary feeling of inhibition. Feeling inhibited or “free” is appealing to many. As a person’s drinking increases so does their physical and psychological alcohol addiction. Once someone is physically addicted, it feels worse to stop drinking because withdrawal symptoms can occur. A person may drink more often or have large binge drinking sessions.

There is much more involved with alcoholism than the above symptoms. To learn more general information about alcoholism take a look at NIAAA’s questions and answers page.

Instant Alcoholism Physical Symptoms

Numerous studies show that these physical symptoms occur almost automatically when someone drinks alcohol. As someone drinks more alcohol, the symptoms increase in strength.

After One-Seven glasses of alcohol:

• Blood vessel dilate, which causes a body to feel warmer than it may be in reality.
• Small amounts of pain desensitization – this can occur with just one drink and can intensify as more alcohol is consumed.
• Taste, smell, and vision are reduced. The more alcohol someone consumes, the more these functions are reduced (just as with the pain issue above).
• Memory is reduced.
• Speed reaction and hand-eye coordination are both reduced.
• Muscle coordination becomes shaky and inefficient.

After Five – 14 glasses of alcohol:

• The above symptoms worsen and some new symptoms are added.
• Skin can become red and the face swollen.
• Nausea and usually vomiting occur.
• Pupils will dilate making vision even more unclear.

After Nine – 19 glasses of alcohol:

• All the above symptoms increase to the maximum amount.
• Almost all sense and coordination abilities are completely impaired.
• Alcohol poisoning is very likely if someone manages to drink this much at one time. Alcohol poisoning includes dangerous issues like coma, heart attack, lack of breathing, and death.

This is instant alcohol abuse and can happen if someone is used to consuming alcohol or not. For instance, an individual who has never had a sip of alcohol can experience all these short term physical symptoms. An alcoholic can also experience all these symptoms, even though they may have to consume more alcohol before they become apparent.

Short-Term Physical Symptoms of Alcoholism

The first physical symptom, as mentioned above, is a real whole body feeling of euphoria. As a person becomes an alcoholic, this symptom may continue but can lessen as well. Sometimes instead of lessening the euphoric feelings become more intense, and a person will take risks that can lead to secondary physical symptoms.

For instance, an alcoholic may make a bad decision and drive while intoxicated. If an accident occurs and the person breaks their leg that’s a symptom of the problem but the alcohol alone did not break the person’s leg. All sorts of secondary physical injuries can occur for alcoholics.

Once someone becomes addicted they start to experience numerous alcoholism physical symptoms. Some of the most typical kinds of physical symptoms for alcoholism are called, as a group, “physical dependence.” Physical dependence is also is a good indication that a person is no longer a social drinker but is in fact an alcoholic. Physical dependence symptoms are withdrawal symptoms meaning that when the person does not drink they begin to feel sick. Nausea, sweating, shaking, headache, and anxiety are all typical.

Mild neurological issues can occur early on as well. This is one reason people get headaches when they drink too much. Another neurological-based physical problem is insomnia and sometimes even altered dreams that can cause physical differences in sleep patterns.

Long-Term Symptoms of Alcoholism

While drinking heavily for even a day is not healthy, the longer someone is an alcoholic the more dangerous the alcoholism physical symptoms become.

• Liver disorders like alcoholic hepatitis are common. Many people who develop liver issues experience scarring on the actual liver called cirrhosis that will eventually kill them.
• Heart disease and related issues like stroke, abnormal blood clotting, and enlarged heart.
• Lung issues may not be the first problems that come to mind with alcoholism but it is highly associated with pneumonia and a lung disease called acute respiratory distress syndrome that can be fatal.
• Excessive vomiting in alcoholics can cause tears near the stomach.
• Osteoporosis, skin sores, and itching are common in very long term alcoholics.

Long-term secondary conditions include cancer. Science can’t prove that alcohol cause cancer but studies show that alcoholics have a 10 percent higher risk of getting cancer than non-alcoholics. The theory is that drinking puts people more at risk because of other choices they make. Another secondary long-term symptom is an increased risk for other drug addictions.

Drinking may seem like fun and science shows that in some cases, in small doses, drinking can even be healthy. Still, when you add up all the negative physical symptoms it makes alcohol look far less attractive. If you or someone you love needs help with an alcohol addiction visit the following resources:

• Alcoholics Anonymous
• Alcoholism Recovery
• Alcoholism Treatment