The Effects of Alcoholism are Short-Term and Long-Term

The effects of alcoholism can be serious even life-threatening and they are both short-term and long-term. There are physiological effects and psychological effects of alcoholism.

The short-term effects of alcoholism can occur as soon as ten minutes after the alcohol hits the lips. The longer the individual drinks the more severe the effects become. The consequences of your drinking may involve events and occurrences that you will later regret. While under the influence of alcohol inhibitions are loosened and individuals do what they might not otherwise do such as engaging in unprotected sex exposing themselves to sexually transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancies and date rape.

Those who practice binge drinking (drinking a large amount of alcohol in a short time) can lead to unconsciousness, vomiting while unconscious, which can lead to death by suffocation. Another short-term effect of drinking alcohol is blurred vision.

Physiological effects of alcohol consumption for short-term use include loss of muscle control, leading to slurred speech, falls, and stupor, which pretty much mean that the individual is unable to function, and will be disoriented. A person in this shape is not safe to be behind the wheel of a vehicle and when drunks drive innocent persons are injured even killed. If enough alcohol is consumed over a short period of time the individual can even go into a coma. The coma can be serious, even fatal.

Long-term effects of alcoholism (drinking over a long period of time) can lead to hepatitis and cirrhosis of the liver.  It can also lead to digestive problems including gastritis, which is an inflammation of the stomach lining. Pancreatitis is another long-term effect of drinking. Pancreatitis is inflammation of the pancreas. Long-term drinking can lead to high blood pressure, which can lead to stroke. Alcoholics are also at risk for certain cancers of the mouth and throat and damage to the brain. They can experience heart failure and neurological problems like epilepsy.

Alcoholism can lead to other medical problems such as obesity, sexual difficulties like erectile dysfunction, infertility, skin problems, and muscle disease.

Psychological effects of alcoholism include becoming overly anxious, depressed, developing problems sleeping, developing mood-swings, and becoming violent or suicidal.

Alcohol and the effects of the drinking behavior for the person suffering from alcoholism reach farther than the individual because the family members are also impacted by the drinking in many ways including financially, emotionally, and mentally because alcoholism damages relationships. The effects on children can lead to living without a parent (the alcoholic) or because of the family history of alcoholism they are at risk for becoming alcoholics themselves someday. The violent behavior seen in some alcoholics often leads to spousal abuse or violence towards others including co-workers, neighbors and friends.

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