Alcoholics suffer significantly from brain deficits that affect them physically, emotionally and mentally during the later stages of alcoholism. People may have difficulty spotting symptoms during the early stages of alcoholism, or the alcoholic may go through periods of denial. The signs become more obvious as heavy drinking takes a toll on the alcoholic's life, causing personal struggles and serious health problems.
Loss of Control
Dependency starts taking a noticeable turn during advanced alcoholism stages. The alcoholic's world centers on drinking. Alcoholics become uncomfortable when alcohol is not around or become irritable and impatient when drinking time nears. Drinking takes a priority and interferes with daily activities. Promises or commitments made may be broken because of forgetfulness or disinterest. The alcoholism disrupts family life, relationships and careers. Frequent lateness or absences from work occur, which may eventually lead to loss of employment because of decreased productivity or conflicts on the job, according to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Disputes with spouses or family members can become more common, often leading to violence or physical and emotional abuse. Despite the knowledge that alcohol is at the core of these problems, the alcoholic continues to drink because of a physical need, carelessness and recklessness.
Impaired Function
Alcoholics build up a tolerance to drinking over time and can handle more liquor in earlier stages. It begins to take less alcohol for an alcoholic to become impaired in the later stages, however. Long-term drinkers begin to experience more memory lapses or blackouts, episodes in which they are unable to recall events that occurred during their drinking bouts. Severe withdrawal symptoms, such as agitation, shakiness, tremors and hallucinations, result from delirium tremens that develop during advanced alcoholism. The symptoms become part of the reason many alcoholics fear abstinence. Alcohol has been affecting the brain from years of drinking and can cause brain disorders. Many alcoholics in advanced stages suffer from mental confusion and impaired muscle coordination, causing difficulty thinking and walking even during sobriety. Psychotic conditions characterized by learning and memory problems may develop, according to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism.
Liver Damage
Excessive drinking over time causes malnourishment because alcoholism reduces the appetite and leads to poor absorption of nutrients, MedlinePlus explains. Malnutrition may result in liver disease, a common disorder for alcoholics in advanced stages. Inflammation of the liver causes hepatitis and cirrhosis, scarring of the liver. Symptoms may not develop until the disease has advanced and include abdominal pain, excessive thirst, fatigue, fever, jaundice or yellowing of the skin, rapid heart rate, nausea, vomiting and other effects. Hepatitis can be reversible if the alcoholic quits drinking. The damage from cirrhosis cannot be reversed, but alcoholics can live prolonged lives if drinking stops. The disease must be managed carefully and sometimes requires a liver transplant.
