Complications of Alcohol Abuse
Over a long period of time, excessive drinking creates medical, psychological, and social issues. The quantity and frequency of drinking and overall health affect the extent to which alcohol use disorders cause health complications.
Medical Complications of Alcohol Abuse
Chronic use of alcohol and dependence can damage major organs of the body, including:
Blood-forming system (the bone matrix) – It results in anemia (low red blood cell count), fatiguability and easy bruising
Cardiovascular system – causing abnormal heart rate, high blood pressure (hypertension), heart failure, and other conditions
Gastrointestinal (GI) tract – leading to gastritis; pancreatitis, increased risk of infectious diseases (e.g., tuberculosis), esophageal varices, inflammation, low blood sugar, liver damage, hepatitis, cancer of the esophagus, liver cancer; and pancreatic cancer
Nervous system – causing confusion, increased risk for depression, loss of coordination, psychosis, short-term memory problems, nerve damage, stroke, vision loss, Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome, and other neurological problems
Blackouts – It means the inability to recall recent events that occurred while drinking. Permanent short-term memory loss or Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome is a rare but possible complication of alcoholism severe vitamin B deficiency
Alcohol abuse during pregnancy may cause fetal alcohol syndrome (i.e., low birth weight, small head size, mental retardation, short length, and damage to muscles).