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The Physical Symptoms of Alcohol Abuse

Alcohol use is legal and considered socially acceptable by most people in our society. Many people drink socially throughout their lives, never abusing the substance or becoming addicted to it. Drinking is so commonplace it is often difficult to tell when someone develops a drinking problem and begins to demonstrate signs and symptoms of addiction to alcohol. Physical symptoms of alcohol abuse begin to develop early, but are generally ignored until other symptoms, legal or emotional in nature, begin to surface. Some physical symptoms develop quickly, but some may only develop after long-term alcohol abuse.

  1. Early Symptoms

    • Some physical symptoms of alcohol abuse are visible in anyone who abuses alcohol even one time. Slurred speech is common in anyone who has had too much to drink, as is dizziness, retarded motor skills, lack of coordination and a tendency to urinate more often than usual. Those symptoms do not necessarily indicate that the individual drinks frequently or will drink the same amount again. In short, they do not indicate that the person in question is an alcoholic or even an alcohol abuser.

    Tolerance

    • Increasing tolerance is the symptom that draws the line between occasional drinkers, substance abusers and those who are developing an addiction. Tolerance is the need to drink more alcohol in order to obtain the same level of intoxication previously reached using less alcohol. Once the drinker develops tolerance to alcohol, he may begin to demonstrate physical signs of alcohol abuse.

    Physical Symptoms

    • Many physical symptoms begin to occur as an individual begins to drink more and more. One common symptom of heavy alcohol use is the blackout, or period of time that the drinker cannot remember. She may forget hours, days or weeks of time while drinking. The drinker also may drink until she passes out. The heavy drinker will often complain of unexplained stomach discomfort,or a numbness in her feet and hands. The heavy drinker's cheeks and face may appear red, and she may begin to lose weight because of not eating properly.

    Long term physical effects

    • People who continue to drink will develop serious health problems related to alcohol use. Liver inflammation has long been associated with alcoholism, leading to cirrhosis of the liver, an irreversible and potentially deadly disease. The alcoholic also is t greater risk of having heart problems, stroke, and cancer, according to researchers. Because of the alcoholic's poor eating habits and lack of nutrition, he may develop stomach problems. Long-term drinkers also experience neurological problems that include confusion and memory loss.

    Other Symptoms

    • Physical symptoms of alcohol abuse can affect the unborn infants of alcohol using mothers. Studies have shown that a woman does not have to be an alcoholic to give birth to a child with fetal alcohol syndrome, and recommendations are that pregnant women not drink at all. A common problem related to alcohol use in men is erectile dysfunction. While many males think alcohol creates a stronger desire for sex, research shows that alcohol decreases the man's ability to perform sexually.

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