BACK TOTOP Browse A-ZSearchBrowse A-ZABCDEFGHIJKLMNOPQRSTUVWXYZ0-9 E-mail FormEmail ResultsName:Email address:Recipients Name:Recipients address:Message: Print-FriendlyBookmarksbookmarks-menuHealth risks of alcohol use Alcoholism - risks; Alcohol abuse - risks; Alcohol dependence - risks; Risky drinking Beer, wine, and liquor all contain alcohol (ethanol). Drinking an excessive amount of alcohol can put you at risk for alcohol-related problems.Definition of Alcohol UseBeer, wine, and liquor all contain alcohol. If you are drinking any of these, you are using alcohol. Your drinking patterns may vary, depending on who you are with and what you are doing.Drinking an excessive amount of alcohol can put you at risk for alcohol-related problems if:You are a man of legal drinking age who has 15 or more drinks a week, or often have 5 or more drinks at a time. You are a woman of legal drinking age who has 8 or more drinks a week, or often have 4 or more drinks at a time.One drink is defined as 12 ounces, oz (360 milliliters, mL) of beer, 5 oz (150 mL) of wine, or a 1 1/2-oz (45 mL) shot of liquor.Alcohol Use and Your HealthLong-term excessive alcohol use increases your chances of:Bleeding from the stomach or esophagus (the tube the food travels through from your mouth to your stomach). StomachA peptic ulcer is an open sore or raw area in the lining of the stomach (gastric ulcer) or in the first part of the small intestine (duodenal ulcer)....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article EsophagusThe esophagus (food pipe) is the tube that connects your throat to your stomach. Varices are enlarged veins that may be found in the esophagus in pe...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Swelling and damage to the pancreas (pancreatitis). Your pancreas produces substances your body needs to work well. Swelling and damage to the pancreasPancreatitis is swelling of the pancreas. Chronic pancreatitis is present when this problem does not heal or recurs and does not improve, gets worse...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Damage to the liver. When severe, liver damage often leads to death. Damage to the liverCirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Poor nutrition. Cancer of the esophagus, liver, colon, head and neck, breasts, and other areas. Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersExcessive drinking can also:Make it harder to control high blood pressure with medicines if you already have high blood pressure. Lead to heart problems in some people. Alcohol can affect your thinking and judgment each time you drink. Long-term excessive alcohol use damages brain cells. This can lead to lasting damage to your memory, thinking, and the way you behave.Damage to nerves from alcohol use can cause many problems, including:Damage to nerves from alcohol useAlcoholic neuropathy is damage to the nerves that results from excessive drinking of alcohol.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Numbness or a painful "pins and needles" feeling in your arms or legs. Problems with erections in men. Leaking urine or having a hard time passing urine. Drinking during pregnancy can harm your growing baby. Severe birth defects or fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) may occur.Fetal alcohol syndromeFetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are groupings of growth, mental, and physical problems that may occur in a baby when a mother drinks alcohol ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How Alcohol Use Can Affect Your LifePeople often drink to make themselves feel better or to block feelings of sadness, depression, nervousness, or worry. But alcohol can:Make these problems worse over time. Cause sleep problems or make them worse. Increase the risk for suicide. Families are often affected when someone in the home uses alcohol excessively. Violence and conflict in the home is much more likely when a family member uses excessive alcohol. Children who grow up in a home where alcohol is used excessively are more likely to:Do poorly in school. Be depressed and have problems with anxiety and low self-esteem.Drinking too much alcohol even once can harm you or others. It can lead to any of the following:Car accidents Divorce Risky sex habits, which may lead to unplanned or unwanted pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) Falls, drowning, and other accidents Suicide Violence, sexual assault, and homicide There is no evidence that alcohol improves any aspect of your health.What You Can DoFirst, ask yourself what type of drinker you are?What type of drinker you areMany people with alcohol problems cannot tell when their drinking is a problem or out of control. It is important to be aware of how much you are dr...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Even if you are a responsible drinker, drinking too much just once can be harmful.Be aware of your drinking patterns. Learn ways to cut back on drinking.If you cannot control your drinking or if your drinking is becoming harmful to yourself or others, seek help from:Your health care provider Support and self-help groups for people who have drinking problems Support and self-help groupsAlcohol use disorder is a medical condition. If you think you may have an alcohol use disorder, see a health care provider. The following organizati...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention website. Alcohol use and your health. www.cdc.gov/alcohol/about-alcohol-use/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm. Updated May 15, 2024. Accessed June 18, 2024.Finnell JT. Alcohol-related disease. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 137.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism website. Alcohol's effects on the body. www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohols-effects-body. Accessed February 14, 2024.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism website. Understanding alcohol use disorder. www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/understanding-alcohol-use-disorder. Updated January 2024. Accessed February 14, 2024.O'Connor PG. Alcohol use disorders. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 364.US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening and behavioral counseling interventions to reduce unhealthy alcohol use in adolescents and adults: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2018;320(18):1899-1909. PMID: 30422199 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30422199/.AllVideoImagesTogAlcoholism - illustration Alcoholism is a chronic illness marked by dependence on alcohol consumption that interferes with physical or mental health, and social, family or job responsibilities. This addiction can lead to liver, circulatory and neurological problems. Pregnant women who drink alcohol in any amount may harm the fetus.AlcoholismillustrationCirrhosis of the liver - illustration A chronic liver disease which causes damage to liver tissue, scarring of the liver (fibrosis; nodular regeneration), progressive decrease in liver function, excessive fluid in the abdomen (ascites), bleeding disorders (coagulopathy), increased pressure in the blood vessels (portal hypertension), and brain function disorders (hepatic encephalopathy). Excessive alcohol use is the leading cause of cirrhosis.Cirrhosis of the liverillustrationAlcoholism - illustration Alcoholism is a chronic illness marked by dependence on alcohol consumption that interferes with physical or mental health, and social, family or job responsibilities. This addiction can lead to liver, circulatory and neurological problems. Pregnant women who drink alcohol in any amount may harm the fetus.AlcoholismillustrationCirrhosis of the liver - illustration A chronic liver disease which causes damage to liver tissue, scarring of the liver (fibrosis; nodular regeneration), progressive decrease in liver function, excessive fluid in the abdomen (ascites), bleeding disorders (coagulopathy), increased pressure in the blood vessels (portal hypertension), and brain function disorders (hepatic encephalopathy). Excessive alcohol use is the leading cause of cirrhosis.Cirrhosis of the liverillustrationA Closer Look Alcohol use disorders - InDepth(In-Depth)Alcoholism(Alt. Medicine)Self Care Health risks of alcohol use Risks of underage drinkingDiabetes and alcoholMyths about drinking alcoholTalking to your teen about drinkingSteps to take before you get pregnantHelping your teen with depressionMake the most of your doctor visit Tests for Health risks of alcohol use Toxicology screenRelated Information Review Date: 2/8/2024 Reviewed By: Linda J. Vorvick, MD, Clinical Professor, Department of Family Medicine, UW Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, WA. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. The information provided herein should not be used during any medical emergency or for the diagnosis or treatment of any medical condition. A licensed medical professional should be consulted for diagnosis and treatment of any and all medical conditions. 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Health risks of alcohol use Alcoholism - risks; Alcohol abuse - risks; Alcohol dependence - risks; Risky drinking Beer, wine, and liquor all contain alcohol (ethanol). Drinking an excessive amount of alcohol can put you at risk for alcohol-related problems.Definition of Alcohol UseBeer, wine, and liquor all contain alcohol. If you are drinking any of these, you are using alcohol. Your drinking patterns may vary, depending on who you are with and what you are doing.Drinking an excessive amount of alcohol can put you at risk for alcohol-related problems if:You are a man of legal drinking age who has 15 or more drinks a week, or often have 5 or more drinks at a time. You are a woman of legal drinking age who has 8 or more drinks a week, or often have 4 or more drinks at a time.One drink is defined as 12 ounces, oz (360 milliliters, mL) of beer, 5 oz (150 mL) of wine, or a 1 1/2-oz (45 mL) shot of liquor.Alcohol Use and Your HealthLong-term excessive alcohol use increases your chances of:Bleeding from the stomach or esophagus (the tube the food travels through from your mouth to your stomach). StomachA peptic ulcer is an open sore or raw area in the lining of the stomach (gastric ulcer) or in the first part of the small intestine (duodenal ulcer)....ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article EsophagusThe esophagus (food pipe) is the tube that connects your throat to your stomach. Varices are enlarged veins that may be found in the esophagus in pe...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Swelling and damage to the pancreas (pancreatitis). Your pancreas produces substances your body needs to work well. Swelling and damage to the pancreasPancreatitis is swelling of the pancreas. Chronic pancreatitis is present when this problem does not heal or recurs and does not improve, gets worse...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Damage to the liver. When severe, liver damage often leads to death. Damage to the liverCirrhosis is scarring of the liver and poor liver function. It is the last stage of chronic liver disease.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Poor nutrition. Cancer of the esophagus, liver, colon, head and neck, breasts, and other areas. Related video goes here for no-HTML5 browsersExcessive drinking can also:Make it harder to control high blood pressure with medicines if you already have high blood pressure. Lead to heart problems in some people. Alcohol can affect your thinking and judgment each time you drink. Long-term excessive alcohol use damages brain cells. This can lead to lasting damage to your memory, thinking, and the way you behave.Damage to nerves from alcohol use can cause many problems, including:Damage to nerves from alcohol useAlcoholic neuropathy is damage to the nerves that results from excessive drinking of alcohol.ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Numbness or a painful "pins and needles" feeling in your arms or legs. Problems with erections in men. Leaking urine or having a hard time passing urine. Drinking during pregnancy can harm your growing baby. Severe birth defects or fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS) may occur.Fetal alcohol syndromeFetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD) are groupings of growth, mental, and physical problems that may occur in a baby when a mother drinks alcohol ...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article How Alcohol Use Can Affect Your LifePeople often drink to make themselves feel better or to block feelings of sadness, depression, nervousness, or worry. But alcohol can:Make these problems worse over time. Cause sleep problems or make them worse. Increase the risk for suicide. Families are often affected when someone in the home uses alcohol excessively. Violence and conflict in the home is much more likely when a family member uses excessive alcohol. Children who grow up in a home where alcohol is used excessively are more likely to:Do poorly in school. Be depressed and have problems with anxiety and low self-esteem.Drinking too much alcohol even once can harm you or others. It can lead to any of the following:Car accidents Divorce Risky sex habits, which may lead to unplanned or unwanted pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections (STIs) Falls, drowning, and other accidents Suicide Violence, sexual assault, and homicide There is no evidence that alcohol improves any aspect of your health.What You Can DoFirst, ask yourself what type of drinker you are?What type of drinker you areMany people with alcohol problems cannot tell when their drinking is a problem or out of control. It is important to be aware of how much you are dr...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Even if you are a responsible drinker, drinking too much just once can be harmful.Be aware of your drinking patterns. Learn ways to cut back on drinking.If you cannot control your drinking or if your drinking is becoming harmful to yourself or others, seek help from:Your health care provider Support and self-help groups for people who have drinking problems Support and self-help groupsAlcohol use disorder is a medical condition. If you think you may have an alcohol use disorder, see a health care provider. The following organizati...ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article Open ReferencesReferencesCenters for Disease Control and Prevention website. Alcohol use and your health. www.cdc.gov/alcohol/about-alcohol-use/?CDC_AAref_Val=https://www.cdc.gov/alcohol/fact-sheets/alcohol-use.htm. Updated May 15, 2024. Accessed June 18, 2024.Finnell JT. Alcohol-related disease. In: Walls RM, ed. Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice. 10th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2023:chap 137.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism website. Alcohol's effects on the body. www.niaaa.nih.gov/alcohols-effects-health/alcohols-effects-body. Accessed February 14, 2024.National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism website. Understanding alcohol use disorder. www.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/brochures-and-fact-sheets/understanding-alcohol-use-disorder. Updated January 2024. Accessed February 14, 2024.O'Connor PG. Alcohol use disorders. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 364.US Preventive Services Task Force. Screening and behavioral counseling interventions to reduce unhealthy alcohol use in adolescents and adults: US Preventive Services Task Force recommendation statement. JAMA. 2018;320(18):1899-1909. PMID: 30422199 pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30422199/.
