Long-term Health Problems Related To Binge Drinking

Binge drinking is a growing problem in the United States, particularly among college students. While even a single binge-drinking episode can have substantial health consequences for someone, regular binge drinking can be hazardous and have various long- and short-term effects. 

It's challenging to live with alcohol abuse or addiction on one's own, especially when it leads to frequent binge drinking. Keep reading to understand in detail what binge drinking is and the long-term effects it can have on someone.   

What Is Binge Drinking? 

When a person consumes a high amount of alcohol in a short period, it is known as binge drinking. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), binge drinking occurs when someone's blood alcohol content rises above the legal limit of 0.08%. 

For women, having four or more drinks in two hours is defined as binge drinking; for men, it's five or more drinks consumed in less than two hours. (However, many people consume more drinks than this when binge drinking.) 

In the United States, binge drinking is a principal element of the culture. As a result, many people engage in or have engaged in binge drinking at some point in their lives. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), excessive drinking accounts for one in 10 deaths among American adults (20-64) each year. About 90% of adults who say they are excessive drinkers binge drink. 

Long-Term Effects of Binge Drinking  

Binge drinking can affect different people in a variety of ways. However, if alcohol consumption is causing trouble for you at work, in social situations, or at home, it's a problem. There can be short-term and long-term consequences of binge drinking.   

Short-term consequences of binge drinking will fade after a single night or a few days. However, if there are injuries or STDs, they might last for years. 

There aren't many studies on how long binge drinking's physical effects linger or whether your body can fully recover, but there is an increased risk of long-term harm with more frequent binge drinking. 

According to the article, “Binge Drinking May Quickly Lead to Liver Damage” by researchers at UCSF (University of California, San Francisco), 21 binge drinking sessions over seven weeks was enough to trigger signs of early-stage liver disease in mice. 

More research on humans is needed. However, the consequences of long-term high-alcohol consumption are well known. Alcohol consumption raises the risk of malignancies of the liver, mouth, throat, voice box, esophagus, colon, and rectum in the long run. Even drinking a couple of beers per week has been linked to a higher risk of breast cancer in women. 

Alcoholic liver disease, which includes liver inflammation and cirrhosis, can result from heavy, long-term alcohol consumption. Excessive alcohol use is also harmful to the cardiovascular system, increasing the risk of heart attack, high blood pressure, and irregular pulse. 

Long-term heavy alcohol consumption can hurt the body as follows: 

• Circulatory and immunological systems: Anemia, insufficient platelets, and a weakened immune system are all symptoms of chronic alcohol abuse. 

• Muscles and bones: Long-term alcohol abuse can interfere with calcium absorption and bone growth, resulting in osteoporosis. 

• Nervous system and brain: Heavy drinking raises the risk of stroke and can result in dementia or a loss of balance and coordination. 

• Mental well-being: Heavy drinkers are more likely to develop depression, anxiety, and psychosis, in addition to alcohol dependency. 

• Sexual well-being: Heavy drinking can lower fertility in men and women and decrease a man's sex drive. If a woman drinks when pregnant, it can be harmful to the fetus' health. 

• Intestines: Absorption of vitamins and other nutrients in the intestines might be hampered by excessive alcohol use, resulting in malnutrition. 

You can reduce the dangers mentioned above by controlling the amount of alcohol you use and its frequency. However, keep in mind that any alcohol consumption carries some risk.  

The NIAAA also defines heavy alcohol use as consuming more than four drinks on any day or more than 14 drinks per week (for men) and consuming more than three drinks on any day or more than seven drinks per week (for women). Additionally, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) defines heavy alcohol use as binge drinking five or more days in a recent month. 

Reducing the societal impact of binge drinking will include acknowledging the scale of the problem and addressing it. Properly managing the issue could consist of alcohol taxes, advertising guidelines, and sensible restrictions on availability. 

Help Is Always Available 

If you are struggling to control your drinking, cannot stop, or drink excessively, you can turn your situation around. Finding professional treatment is the best approach to reclaim your life and set you on the path to recovery. With DetoxNearMe.com, you will discover treatment centers across the country, all of which provide individualized addiction programs. Binge drinking is a symptom of an alcohol abuse problem. If you think you or someone you know has a binge drinking problem, visit DetoxNearMe.com to find the best treatment option for you.