The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports that liver disease killed 14,406 alcoholics in 2007. Excluding accidents and homicides, 23,199 other deaths were directly attributed to alcohol. This data suggests that years of heavy alcohol consumption slowly poison the body, affecting every major system in the body, including neurological, hepatic, digestive, cardiac and respiratory systems.
Cardiovascular Disease
The American Heart Association reports that heavy, long-term alcohol use also causes elevated triglyceride levels and high blood pressure. Cardiac arrhythmia and sudden cardiac death can also result.
The New York Times Health Guide explains that alcoholic cardiomyopathy results from excessive alcohol consumption over a long period of time. Eventually, the heart muscle becomes so weakened, it cannot pump blood efficiently. Patients are often breathless and fatigued from simple activities.
Malnutrition
People who have been drinking heavily for a long period of time are often malnourished. Part of this malnourishment is because alcoholics often have inadequate intake of calories from sources other than alcohol. As a 2010 article appearing in the "Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology" explains, malnourishment can also result from changes in that small intestines of alcohols that prevent absorption of nutrients.
Chronic Pancreatitis
The National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases explains that chronic pancreatitis results from years of heavy alcohol use. Often the chronic form of pancreatitis is triggered by an acute episode that leaves the pancreatic ducts damaged. This acute episode can occur as long as two days after the consumption of alcohol.
Symptoms include pain in the upper abdomen which may worsen when eating and drinking. The University of Maryland Medical Center urges that patients seek prompt conventional medical care because this can be life-threatening.
Alcoholic Liver Disease
MedlinePlus explains that alcoholic liver disease is the result of many years of heavy drinking. If drinking continues, the initial inflammation can progress to cirrhosis. Symptoms of alcoholic liver disease include dry mouth, fatigue, jaundice, tarry stool inability to concentrate and abdominal pain. MedlinePlus urges patients with alcoholic liver disease to stop drinking because the liver can heal if the disease has not progressed to cirrhosis.
References
- National Institute of Diabetes, Digestive and Kidney Diseases: Pancreatitis
- University of Maryland Medical Center: Pancreatitis
- New York Times Health Guide: Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy
- "Scandinavian Journal of Gastroenterology": Small Intestinal Malabsorption in Chronic Alcoholism
- MedlinePlus: Alcoholic Liver Disease
- U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: Alcohol Use
