Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a chronic disease that affects millions of Americans. Individuals with alcohol addiction experience many health complications, including high blood pressure, inflammation and a higher risk for cancer. When you rely on alcohol for stability, your mental health also suffers.
It's important to know that whatever stage of addiction you're in, recovery is possible. If you pursue recovery, you can experience many positive health benefits that make you feel better and may extend your life expectancy. Learn more about how alcohol affects lifespan and the benefits of recovery.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), about 178,000 people die each year from drinking excessively. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S. The stages of AUD that can lead to premature death include:
The life expectancy of heavy drinkers continually declines as they age. That's because alcohol consumption can worsen existing health problems, harm physical and mental health and dangerously interact with medications. Alcohol can also make it seem as though you're aging faster by causing:
Older people may have an unhealthy reliance on alcohol later in life due to life changes, like the death of a loved one or failing health. These changes can lead to depression, anxiety, loneliness or boredom, which can cause older adults to drink too much.
Heavy drinking is linked to several poor health outcomes, including heart conditions. Alcohol use disorder can cause high blood pressure, heart failure or stroke. It can also contribute to cardiomyopathy, a disease that weakens the heart muscle.
A 2022 study found that heavy alcohol consumption increased a person's risk for cardiovascular disease. Excessive alcohol use might indirectly cause heart failure or worsen heart function by contributing to obesity. Mixed drinks and cocktails are exceptionally high in sugar and calories, so when the drinks add up, they can be highly unhealthy for the body.
Alcohol-induced liver disease refers to liver damage caused by excessive alcohol consumption. When you drink more alcohol than the liver can process, it can become severely damaged. Many heavy drinkers progress through these common types of liver disease over time:
Alcohol-induced liver disease can cause symptoms like nausea, weight loss, loss of appetite and confusion. Often, these symptoms only present themselves after the liver is already damaged. While alcohol-induced liver disease is common, you can prevent it by significantly reducing alcohol intake or stopping it altogether.
Heavy drinking can also cause pancreatitis, a condition characterized by inflammation and damaged cells. There are two main types of pancreatitis — acute and chronic. While alcohol is not the only cause of pancreatitis, heavy drinking can cause both chronic and acute pancreatitis.
When the condition occurs, it can be life-threatening and painful. Symptoms often start with pain in the upper abdomen that can spread to the back, leading to:
Repeated cases of acute pancreatitis can cause irreversible damage and lead to chronic pancreatitis. The best way to prevent pancreatitis is to avoid excessive alcohol use.
Alcohol makes it more difficult for the immune system to defend the body from harmful germs. The healthier a person's immune system, the quicker it can clear viruses and recover from diseases.
Once you take a sip of alcohol, your body prioritizes breaking down the alcohol over other bodily functions. When the immune system becomes damaged by heavy drinking, it can weaken functions like the lung immune response, increasing the risk of respiratory diseases like pneumonia. With a weakened immune system, a person with alcohol dependence's lifespan drastically declines.
Alcohol can also impair sleep quality, and studies show the less sleep a person gets, the higher their risk of getting sick. A lack of sleep can also impact how long it takes for someone to recover from sickness.
Alcohol is one of the most preventable risk factors for cancer. A person has a higher risk of alcohol-related cancers the more they drink. Alcohol-associated cancers include:
All alcoholic drinks, including wine, beer and liquor, are linked to cancer. For each of these cancers, the more alcohol you consume, the higher your risk. However, drinking even small amounts of alcohol can increase the risk for some cancers, such as breast cancer.
Researchers believe alcohol might increase the risk of cancer by:
There's a link between alcohol misuse and the risk of suicidal thoughts, attempts and death by suicide. A 2021 study found men with a history of alcohol charges have more than twice the risk of suicide.
Many people use alcohol to self-medicate mental health issues like anxiety and depression. They may struggle with a mood or personality disorder or even attempt to cope with trauma by turning to alcohol. Heavy drinking can lead to alcohol use disorder, which can worsen mental health issues.
Alcohol can also lower a person's inhibitions and make them more likely to act on suicidal thoughts. If you or a loved one experiences changes in mood or suicidal thoughts, it's essential to seek help immediately.
When you choose to go through a recovery program and stop drinking excessive amounts of alcohol, your body begins to recover. Your life expectancy may increase, your relationships will improve and you'll have increased earning potential to build the life you want.
Although short-term symptoms may be uncomfortable, there is no downside to pursuing recovery. Benefits of detoxing from alcohol addiction include:
Quitting alcohol can mitigate and even reverse some health risks caused by too much alcohol in your bloodstream. When your body has time to rest and process the toxins introduced with alcohol, inflammation will go down, your blood sugar can start to regulate, and risks for disease will decrease.
If your organs are damaged from excessive alcohol consumption, you may need medical support to heal. While it's difficult to be exactly sure how much your health will improve after you quit, not drinking alcohol anymore is the number one way you can improve your health after addiction.
You may feel that quitting alcohol will make it hard to cope with life. However, the opposite is true — when you stop flooding your body with alcohol, you'll feel better physically and mentally. Staying away from alcohol will reduce your risk for depression, anxiety and other mental health issues.
Instead of masking symptoms, sobriety lets you face the root issue of your addiction and mental health obstacles. Struggling to cope with your emotions or daily stressors signifies that something needs to change. There is peace on the other side of those changes.
Alcohol addiction isolates you from loved ones and can damage your relationships. When you stop putting alcohol first, you can invest in relationships again. You become more trustworthy and someone that others can depend on. Although it takes time to rebuild trust, it can happen.
If your friends or family were encouraging you to drink alcohol, you may need to reassess the relationships in your life. Spending time with people who drink won't help you pursue an addiction-free life.
Alcohol addiction can severely inhibit your ability to get and retain a job. This is especially true for people addicted to alcohol who have started drinking on the job or are missing work entirely. When you become sober, you'll also develop qualities that professionals look for when hiring, such as stability, dependability, trustworthiness and more.
When you walk away from alcohol addiction, you set yourself up for more career prospects and increased earning potential. With dedication and commitment, you can achieve the life you've dreamed about.
Studies show that, while career prospects improve after recovery, the right support is crucial for those returning to work after detoxing from alcohol. Relationships are key to healing, whether you return to a previous job or begin a new one. With the right support, you can thrive professionally after addiction recovery.
At Diamond House Detox, we offer alcohol addiction holistic treatment services to aid you in recovery. Our services include medication adjustment and individualized treatment tailored to your needs. Our compassionate and highly trained team of professionals can help you recover from addiction and restore your health.
We believe in treating people and not just their addictions. To help individuals heal, we use evidence-based, holistic treatments that address co-occurring disorders and underlying mental health symptoms. Our private rooms and intimate settings allow for rest from triggers and a healthy connection with professionals at our facility.
When you stay with us, you'll have access to nutritious seasonal meals and around-the-clock compassionate care. Our medical professionals have years of experience working in this field and can help you determine the right combination of treatments for your specific situation. We're committed to helping you heal in an immersive, stress-free environment.
Alcohol addiction is a severe disease that can significantly impact a person's health. The average lifespan of someone addicted to alcohol goes down with each drink, increasing the risk for heart and liver problems, cancer and suicide. If you or a loved one is struggling with alcohol addiction, Diamond House Detox can help.
To learn more about our treatment programs, call (888) 205-9346 or complete our online inquiry form.
