7 Medical Conditions Caused By Alcohol Abuse

People who drink large amounts of alcohol are very prone to a wide range of medical conditions. Some are mild, and others are severe, depending on people’s drinking patterns. If they drink more often and take strong alcoholic beverages, they would develop more severe cases of these diseases.

Most commonly, alcohol is involved in many cancers, heart diseases, stomach conditions, and some mental illnesses. Many of these diseases could have been prevented by controlling alcohol intake.

If you’d like to know more about the many medical conditions caused by alcohol, here they are.

1. Alcohol causes various cancers of the mouth and throat

People who take four or more drinks each day are about 3 times more vulnerable to mouth and throat cancers. If they also smoke, these chances are even higher.

Alcohol contributes to four types of oral cancers: mouth, pharyngeal (upper throat), esophageal, and laryngeal (voice box) cancers. Here are the symptoms of each one.

Symptoms of mouth cancer:

• Mouth sores
• Loose teeth
• Numb tongue
• Difficulty in opening the mouth
• Red and white lesions inside the mouth or on the lips
• Swollen palates

Symptoms of pharyngeal cancer:

• Hoarse voice
• Severe cough
• Difficulty swallowing
• Pain in the ears (but no hearing defects)
• Sore throat
• Rapid weight loss

Symptoms of esophageal cancer:

• Hoarse voice
• Trouble swallowing
• Rapid weight loss
• Heartburn
• Constipation
• Indigestion
• Coughing

Symptoms of laryngeal cancer:

• Hoarse voice
• Difficulty swallowing
• Extremely sore throat
• Severe cough
• Ear pain (but no hearing defects)
• Unexplainable weight loss

2. Alcohol damages tissues of the stomach

Alcohol is an acidic substance. If it’s taken on an empty stomach, it will cause damage to the tissues lining the stomach. This area is already acidic on its own; adding extra acidity from alcohol will just make things worse. Here are some of the diseases of the stomach caused by this substance.

Ulcer is one. This happens when the inner linings of the stomach become irritated by too much acid. As alcohol is acidic, it eats away the protective lining of the stomach, causing ulcers. Its symptoms are:

• Stomach pains
• Vomiting
• Bloated feeling
• Weight loss
• Dark-colored stool

Alcohol may also trigger heartburn. This condition is when acids in the stomach reach the level of the esophagus, which leads to a burning sensation in the throat. The inner lining of the esophagus is also thinner than that of the stomach, so it could get damaged by the acidity.

Here are some of the symptoms of heartburn:

• Chest pain
• Burning sensation in the throat and chest
• Difficulty swallowing
• Sour fluid at the back of the throat
• Feelings of food stuck in the throat

Additionally, alcohol may cause an inflammation of the stomach lining. This condition is known as gastritis, and it may be either acute (short-term) or chronic (long-term). If acute gastritis is not treated, it would become chronic gastritis. The latter has more damaging effects on the stomach.

Here are the symptoms of gastritis:

• Feeling of indigestion
• Vomiting
• Pain in the upper abdomen

3. Alcohol affects the brain in many ways

Drinking alcohol has both short-term and long-term effects on the brain. Right after taking an alcoholic beverage, people may experience these effects:

• Lightheadedness
• Blurred vision
• Slurred speech
• Slow reflexes
• Dizziness
• Blackouts
• Memory lapses

The severity of these symptoms depends on both the amount of alcohol taken and the strength of the drinks.

People who consistently drink alcohol would also suffer from these effects in the long run:

• Confusion
• Paralysis of nerves in the eyes
• Poor muscle coordination
• Gradual memory loss

4. Alcohol damages the heart

Regular alcohol use causes the heart to pump faster. If this persists for the long term, heart failure could be the result.

Another consequence is a condition called cardiac arrhythmia, where the heart beats in an irregular pattern. In other cases, cardiomyopathy may develop, where the heart muscle would enlarge. These conditions are equally life-threatening.

Also, a typical side effect of alcohol use is an increase in blood pressure. This may also lead to fatal heart problems or strokes.

5. Excess alcohol can destroy the liver

The liver is the organ that detoxifies alcohol, allowing the body to flush it out safely. But if the liver encounters too much alcohol, it will get damaged. Here are the liver diseases that are caused by alcohol.

The first sign of alcohol-related liver damage is known as fatty liver. This is when layers of fat build up inside the liver, preventing it from functioning well. An estimated 90-100% of alcohol abusers have this disease. This condition can be reversed, though, if individuals stop drinking.

Another liver disease caused by alcohol is hepatitis, which happens when people binge-drink often. If it isn’t addressed, this condition may lead to liver failure eventually.

The worst kind of liver damage due to alcohol is called cirrhosis. Here, scars form in the liver, which soon results in liver failure. When alcohol abusers develop liver cirrhosis, the condition is permanent.

If the liver becomes too damaged, the body no longer has an organ that detoxifies poisons. Thus, toxic substances will accumulate in the body, and that is fatal.

6. Alcohol also affects the pancreas

The pancreas is an organ that produces insulin, which is responsible for maintaining blood sugar levels. Heavy drinkers may experience pancreatitis, causing them mild to severe pain in that area. In the US, about 33% of cases of acute pancreatitis are linked to alcohol abuse.

When the pancreas is damaged, the body cannot produce insulin normally. In effect, blood sugar levels would spike, and this may produce other complications later on.

7. Alcohol can contribute to diseases of the immune system

Alcohol can also weaken the immune system, making people more prone to conditions like tuberculosis, pneumonia, diphtheria, and even HIV. It also increases the risk for ailments like blood poisoning, inflammation of connective tissues, and accumulation of chest pus.

With a weaker immune system, alcohol abusers are also more vulnerable to infections than healthier people. This, in general, makes them fall ill more often.