Complications of Alcohol abuse

Complications list for Alcohol abuse:

The list of complications that have been mentioned in various sources for Alcohol abuse includes:

• Hangover
• Alcohol poisoning
• Complications of alcohol due to changed behaviors:
  • Accidents
  • Falls
  • Injuries
  • Assaults
  • Homicides
• Alcohol dependency
• Alcoholism
• See complications of alcoholism
• Alcohol withdrawal

See also the symptoms of Alcohol abuse and Alcohol abuse: Introduction.

Complications of Alcohol abuse:

Alcohol Abuse and Treatment: NWHIC (Excerpt)

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) describes the pattern of abnormalities observed in children born to alcoholic mothers. These abnormalities include low birth weight, behavioral dysfunction, brain malformation, physical deformities, and mental retardation. Prenatal alcohol exposure is one of the leading known causes of mental retardation in the Western world. Moderate drinkers can also pass on milder forms of these serious health risks to their children. These are termed fetal alcohol effects (FAE) and can have serious implications in the development of the child. The Centers for Disease Control in the Department of Health and Human Service found that the rate of frequent drinking among pregnant women increased fourfold between 1991 and 1995. (Source: excerpt from Alcohol Abuse and Treatment: NWHIC)

Aging and Alcohol Abuse - Age Page - Health Information: NIA (Excerpt)

Alcohol slows down brain activity. Because alcohol affects alertness, judgment, coordination, and reaction time--drinking increases the risk of falls and accidents. Some research has shown that it takes less alcohol to affect older people than younger ones. Over time, heavy drinking permanently damages the brain and central nervous system, as well as the liver, heart, kidneys, and stomach. Alcohol’s effects can make some medical problems hard to diagnose. For example, alcohol causes changes in the heart and blood vessels that can dull pain that might be a warning sign of a heart attack. It also can cause forgetfulness and confusion, which can seem like Alzheimer’s disease. (Source: excerpt from Aging and Alcohol Abuse - Age Page - Health Information: NIA)

Aging and Alcohol Abuse - Age Page - Health Information: NIA (Excerpt)

Alcohol, itself a drug, is often harmful if mixed with prescription or over-the-counter medicines. This is a special problem for people over 65, because they are often heavy users of prescription medicines and over-the-counter drugs.

Mixing alcohol with other drugs such as tranquilizers, sleeping pills, pain killers, and antihistamines can be very dangerous, even fatal. For example, aspirin can cause bleeding in the stomach and intestines; when it is combined with alcohol, the risk of bleeding is much higher. (Source: excerpt from Aging and Alcohol Abuse - Age Page - Health Information: NIA)

Aging and Alcohol Abuse: NIAAA (Excerpt)

Alcohol slows down brain activity. Because alcohol affects alertness, judgment, coordination, and reaction time, drinking increases the risk of falls and accidents. Some research has shown that it takes less alcohol to affect older people than younger ones. Over time, heavy drinking permanently damages the brain and central nervous system, as well as the liver, heart, kidneys, and stomach. Alcohol's effects can make some medical problems hard to diagnose. For example, alcohol causes changes in the heart and blood vessels that can dull pain that might be a warning sign of a heart attack. It also can cause forgetfulness and confusion, which can seem like Alzheimer's disease. (Source: excerpt from Aging and Alcohol Abuse: NIAAA)

Aging and Alcohol Abuse: NIAAA (Excerpt)

Alcohol, itself a drug, is often harmful when mixed with prescription or over-the-counter medicines. This is a special problem for people over 65, because they are often heavy users of prescription medicines and over-the-counter drugs.

Mixing alcohol with other drugs such as tranquilizers, sleeping pills, pain killers, and antihistamines can be very dangerous, even fatal. For example, aspirin can cause bleeding in the stomach and intestines; when aspirin is combined with alcohol, the risk of bleeding is much higher.

As people age, the body's ability to absorb and dispose of alcohol and other drugs changes. Anyone who drinks should check with a doctor or pharmacist about possible problems with drug and alcohol interactions. (Source: excerpt from Aging and Alcohol Abuse: NIAAA)

Alcohol What You Don't Know Can Harm You: NIAAA (Excerpt)

It may surprise you to learn that you don't need to drink much alcohol before your ability to drive becomes impaired. For example, certain driving skills--such as steering a car while, at the same time, responding to changes in traffic--can be impaired by blood alcohol concentrations (BACs) as low as 0.02 percent. (The BAC refers to the amount of alcohol in the blood.) A 160-pound man will have a BAC of about 0.04 percent 1 hour after consuming two 12-ounce beers or two other standard drinks on an empty stomach (see the box, "What Is a Drink?"). And the more alcohol you consume, the more impaired your driving skills will be. Although most States set the BAC limit for adults who drive after drinking at 0.08 to 0.10 percent, impairment of driving skills begins at much lower levels. (Source: excerpt from Alcohol What You Don't Know Can Harm You: NIAAA)

Alcohol What You Don't Know Can Harm You: NIAAA (Excerpt)

Alcohol interacts negatively with more than 150 medications. For example, if you are taking antihistamines for a cold or allergy and drink alcohol, the alcohol will increase the drowsiness that the medication alone can cause, making driving or operating machinery even more hazardous. And if you are taking large doses of the painkiller acetaminophen and drinking alcohol, you are risking serious liver damage. Check with your doctor or pharmacist before drinking any amount of alcohol if you are taking any over-the-counter or prescription medications. (Source: excerpt from Alcohol What You Don't Know Can Harm You: NIAAA)

Alcohol What You Don't Know Can Harm You: NIAAA (Excerpt)

The more heavily you drink, the greater the potential for problems at home, at work, with friends, and even with strangers. These problems may include:

• Arguments with or estrangement from your spouse and other family members;
• Strained relationships with coworkers;
• Absence from or lateness to work with increasing frequency;
• Loss of employment due to decreased productivity; and
• Committing or being the victim of violence.

Alcohol What You Don't Know Can Harm You: NIAAA (Excerpt)

If you are a pregnant woman or one who is trying to conceive, you can prevent alcohol-related birth defects by not drinking alcohol during your pregnancy. Alcohol can cause a range of birth defects, the most serious being fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). Children born with alcohol-related birth defects can have lifelong learning and behavior problems. Those born with FAS have physical abnormalities, mental impairment, and behavior problems. Because scientists do not know exactly how much alcohol it takes to cause alcohol-related birth defects, it is best not to drink any alcohol during this time. (Source: excerpt from Alcohol What You Don't Know Can Harm You: NIAAA)

Alcohol What You Don't Know Can Harm You: NIAAA (Excerpt)

Some problems, like those mentioned above, can occur after drinking over a relatively short period of time. But other problems--such as liver disease, heart disease, certain forms of cancer, and pancreatitis--often develop more gradually and may become evident only after long-term heavy drinking. Women may develop alcohol-related health problems after consuming less alcohol than men do over a shorter period of time. Because alcohol affects many organs in the body, long-term heavy drinking puts you at risk for developing serious health problems, some of which are described below.

Alcohol-related liver disease. More than 2 million Americans suffer from alcohol-related liver disease. Some drinkers develop alcoholic hepatitis, or inflammation of the liver, as a result of long-term heavy drinking. Its symptoms include fever, jaundice (abnormal yellowing of the skin, eyeballs, and urine), and abdominal pain. Alcoholic hepatitis can cause death if drinking continues. If drinking stops, this condition often is reversible. About 10 to 20 percent of heavy drinkers develop alcoholic cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver. Alcoholic cirrhosis can cause death if drinking continues. Although cirrhosis is not reversible, if drinking stops, one's chances of survival improve considerably. Those with cirrhosis often feel better, and the functioning of their liver may improve, if they stop drinking. Although liver transplantation may be needed as a last resort, many people with cirrhosis who abstain from alcohol may never need liver transplantation. In addition, treatment for the complications of cirrhosis is available.

Heart disease.Moderate drinking can have beneficial effects on the heart, especially among those at greatest risk for heart attacks, such as men over the age of 45 and women after menopause. But long-term heavy drinking increases the risk for high blood pressure, heart disease, and some kinds of stroke.

Cancer. Long-term heavy drinking increases the risk of developing certain forms of cancer, especially cancer of the esophagus, mouth, throat, and voice box. Women are at slightly increased risk of developing breast cancer if they drink two or more drinks per day. Drinking may also increase the risk for developing cancer of the colon and rectum.

Pancreatitis. The pancreas helps to regulate the body's blood sugar levels by producing insulin. The pancreas also has a role in digesting the food we eat. Long-term heavy drinking can lead to pancreatitis, or inflammation of the pancreas. This condition is associated with severe abdominal pain and weight loss and can be fatal. (Source: excerpt from Alcohol What You Don't Know Can Harm You: NIAAA)

Alcohol abuse as a symptom:

For a more detailed analysis of Alcohol abuse as a symptom, including causes, drug side effect causes, and drug interaction causes, please see our Symptom Center information for Alcohol abuse.

About complications:

Complications of Alcohol abuse are secondary conditions, symptoms, or other disorders that are caused by Alcohol abuse. In many cases the distinction between symptoms of Alcohol abuse and complications of Alcohol abuse is unclear or arbitrary.