Alcohol abuse is not always easy to detect, either for yourself or for others. The immediate physical signs of alcohol abuse are only obvious during or just after a session of heavy drinking. However, many other physical signs may develop over a longer period of time, such as jaundice or fever due to alcoholic hepatitis.
Immediate Signs
A number of immediate signs are linked to alcohol abuse. Among the first of the short-term effects of alcohol abuse include distortion of a person's coordination, hearing and vision. The individual may also experience impaired judgment due to misguided perceptions and emotions. In addition to having an unpleasant smell on their breath, many alcohol abusers will also experience hangovers once the alcohol begins to leave their body. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, these physical symptoms are a clue to friends and family that an individual may have a drinking problem.
Liver Damage
Liver damage is one of the most common long-term physical signs of alcohol abuse. According to SAMHSA, heavy drinking over a long period of time can lead to alcoholic hepatitis, a condition which causes the liver to become inflamed. Individuals who experience alcoholic hepatitis will experience a range of symptoms, including jaundice, abdominal pain and fever. This condition, which affects over 2 million Americans, can be fatal if heavy drinking continues.
Alcoholic cirrhosis, or scarring of the liver, is also common among alcohol abusers. SAMHSA reports that alcoholic cirrhosis affects about 10 to 20 percent of alcohol abusers. Unlike alcoholic hepatitis, this condition is not reversible if drinking stops. In extreme cases, a liver transplant may be needed in order for the individual to survive.
Pancreatitis
Drinking heavily over a long period of time may eventually lead to inflammation of the pancreas, also known as pancreatitis. Unusual weight loss and severe abdominal pain are both indicators of these condition. The body's ability to regulate blood sugar levels or digest food may also be affected since the pancreas plays a major role in these internal functions.
Cancer
According to a 1997 study completed by the World Cancer Research Fund and the American Institute for Cancer Research, alcohol abuse may lead to an increased risk for several types of cancer. This list of potential cancers that may have an increased risk is extensive and includes cancers of the digestive track, such as the stomach, rectum and colon; cancers of the head and neck, in areas like the mouth, esophagus and larynx; and breast cancer.
