18 Apr What Alcohol Really Does to Your Body

Regardless of whether you enjoy the occasional glass of wine or you have a difficult time limiting the amount of alcohol you consume, alcohol has an effect on the body from the first sip. While the odd drink isn’t cause for concern, the cumulative effects of drinking can certainly take its toll on the body. If you or a loved one are struggling with alcohol abuse, our recovery experts at Calm rehab in Bali will tailor an alcohol treatment program to meet your specific needs. Understanding what alcohol does to the body might help you make that decision to join us at our Bali rehab.

The side effects of alcohol abuse

There are a number of short and long term side effects from drinking excessively. How much alcohol you drink may affect which symptoms you experience. Low to moderate consumption will usually result in less severe effects than drinking in greater quantities. Short term visible effects might include lack of coordination, slurred speech, mood swings, impaired vision, slowed breathed, and memory lapses. Of course these symptoms can impact not only the person drinking too much, but the people around them.

There are long term effects of alcoholism too, and individuals who consume too much alcohol over a prolonged period are most at risk of developing these symptoms. The long term effects include liver and cardiovascular diseases, cancer, ulcers, respiratory infections, and nerve damage. In fact alcohol has been found to contribute to at least 60 different health problems.

Studies consistently show that heavy alcohol consumption is detrimental to health as well as a leading preventable cause of death. So let’s look more closely at the 6 most common effects of heavy drinking.

1. Liver disease

Chronic alcohol abuse can damage the liver and prevent it from properly taking away harmful substances from the body. It can lead to problems such as fatty liver, alcoholic hepatitis, and hepatitis to name a few. If the liver cannot operate as it should multiple organ failure and death could result.

2. Pancreatitis

Alcohol abuse is the leading cause of chronic pancreatitis, a painful inflammation of the pancreas that prevents proper digestion and often requires hospitalisation. It is caused by toxic substances that the pancreas produces as a result of too much alcohol in the body.

3. Immune system dysfunction

Drinking heavily reduces the body’s natural immune system, making it more difficult to fight off germs and viruses. The body becomes vulnerable to infectious diseases such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. Over time white cell production and function is affected.

4. Ulcers and gastrointestinal problems

Drinking too much can lead to bloating, gas, acid reflux, heartburn and painful ulcers. As alcohol passes through the gastrointestinal tract it begins to exert its toxic effects, weakening the intestines which may lead to bouts of diarrhea and stomach pain.

5. Cancer

Chronic drinkers are more likely to develop throat, mouth or esophagus cancers as well as cancer of the stomach, liver, colon and rectum. In women who drink excessively, breast cancer is more common. Acetaldehyde and the alcohol itself are contributors to the increased risk.

6. Heart disease

Drinking too much over time or even too much on a single occasion can damage the heart and cause problems such as high blood pressure, stroke, arrhythmias and stretching or drooping of the heart muscle.

Making the decision to start the recovery journey is a massive one, but our team at Calm alcohol rehab in Bali, are here to guide and support you every step of the way. Alcohol is certainly not friendly to the body but the benefits of rehab in Bali are numerous and we are here to help you salvage your life and heal your mind and body.

The effects on the body of alcohol abuse might well be widespread but don’t lose hope. There are ways to reverse some, if not all, of alcohol’s damaging effects on the body and liver. Long term abstinence from alcohol, and residential treatment and addiction rehabilitation, have been proven time and time again to help reverse some of the harmful effects of alcohol on the body. Calm Rehab can help you to achieve a stable and sober state with a detox program to meet your individual needs and support you to continue the physical and psychological healing process after detox.

This blog is part of a series of content written by Calm Rehab, a specialist drug and alcohol treatment center located in Bali. Calm Rehab offers a range of professional and effective services to help individuals reclaim their lives and build a brighter future. If you, or a loved one, are struggling with drugs or alcohol, please contact Calm for advice.