The health risks of alcohol abuse come from its effects on mental and physical well-being. Alcohol abuse can lead to a cascade of events that cause emotional difficulty from illness and from interference with productivity, feelings of self worth, and lack of meaningful relationships. The physical health risks from alcohol abuse can lead to a variety of symptoms and ailments that can increase the chances of dying young.
Liver Disease
Alcohol abuse can lead to liver disease that may take years to develop. Alcohol inflames the liver, then produces fatty liver disease that can progress to liver failure. The condition can go undetected until symptoms are present that include fluid in the abdomen, confusion, changes in skin color, thirst, spontaneous bruising, fatigue, gastrointestinal bleeding, and mood changes. Liver disease that progresses to cirrhosis could require a liver transplant.
Malnutrition
A health risk of alcohol abuse includes malnutrition. A 1992 paper published in the "Journal of Nutrition" and authored by Bernhard Watzl and Ronald R. Watson, suggests that alcohol abuse leads to malnutrition from the effects of liver disease, and from skipped and partially consumed meals. Alcohol interferes with the absorption of nutrients.
Pancreatitis
Excessive alcohol intake can lead to pancreatitis, a painful condition that occurs when the organ becomes inflamed. Binge drinking and chronic alcohol abuse can both lead to pancreatitis, leading to health risks from bleeding and pancreatic abscesses. The condition also contributes to malnutrition and can lead to diabetes. The University of Maryland Medical Center suggests that individuals with chronic pancreatitis may also require treatment for alcohol addiction.
Cancer
Alcohol abuse and cancer are closely linked. Chronic alcohol use that leads to liver disease usually precedes liver cancer. Alcoholism is associated with increased risk of cancer of the mouth, pharynx and esophagus. Breast cancer is also a health risk for women who abuse alcohol. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA) warns that two to four percent of all cancers are thought to be either directly or indirectly caused by alcohol.
Depression
Alcohol abuse leads to depression, versus depression as a cause of alcoholism, findings that were in a published March 2009 in the Archives of General Psychiatry. Alcohol abuse or dependence was found to be a cause for major depression that in turn leads to other health risks, including heart disease and worse outcomes for individuals with existing illness. The health risks of alcohol abuse are widespread, lead to complications of existing illness, and take a toll on individual, financial, and family health.
