by George Tucker

Created on: January 21, 2010

Health Problems Caused By Alcohol

Because of its status as a legal and regulated drug, alcohol is not frequently considered a significant cause of health problems. This perception is completely false. According to the Center for Disease Control, alcohol use is the 3rd leading lifestyle-related cause of death in the United States each year. 

Alcohol causes two very different and distinct types of problems: short-term health problems and long-term, chronic conditions.

Short-Term Health Problems Caused By Alcohol

Most short-term alcohol-related health problems are associated with binge drinking. Binge drinking is defined as the consumption of 5 or more drinks (4 or more for women) within 2-3 hours. 

Binge drinkers suffer from the following health problems:

* Accidental injuries (including car accidents, falls, drowning, burns from a fire caused by a dropped cigarette)

* Intentional injuries (fistfights, domestic violence, firearm-related injuries)

* Sex-related health problems (STD or unintended pregnancy)

* Increased risk of stroke and heart attack

* Children born with fetal alcohol syndrome

Avoiding these health problems is relatively straightforward: simply do not binge drink. Moderate alcohol consumption by drinking more slowly, consuming water between alcoholic drinks, eating, etc. One drink per hour should be about the maximum intake of alcohol. 
One particularly dangerous health problem associated with binge drinking is alcohol poisoning. Alcohol poisoning kills partying students in universities across the country every year. Uncontrolled vomiting, cool pale skin or slowed respiration are all signs of alcohol poisoning that require emergency treatment. 

Long-Term Health Problems Caused By Alcohol

Long-term use of alcohol leads to the gradual breakdown of all the organs in the body. Serious, even fatal, health problems affect long-term alcohol users and abusers.

The health problems experienced by long-term alcohol users include:

* Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas and inability to digest food)

* Heart disease (including stroke, high blood pressure and heart disease)

* Cancer (especially cancers of the esophagus, mouth, throat and voice box)

* Liver disease (alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver)

Each of these health problems is potentially fatal. Other, non-fatal health problems associated with alcohol use include the following:

* Loss of brain cells and mental power

* Stomach ulcers (and bleeding ulcers)

* Epilepsy

* Impotence (in men)

* Infertility (in both women and men)

* Obesity

Chronic or excessive alcohol use has a host of potential health problems. These range from an increased rate of accidents to increased rates of cancer. Irresponsible drinking kills tens of thousands of people in the United States every year.

When considering the sheer number and severity of health problems associated with alcohol, the best advice that can be given is to learn to drink alcohol in moderation - or not at all.

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