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What Happens When You Drink Alcohol Everyday?

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A little bit of something every day can’t hurt…or can it? What happens when you drink alcohol every day can be just as harmful as bingeing. Even just a single standard drink can have serious ramifications on your overall health. The impact starts small, but can quickly snowball into the liver and heart diseases associated with chronic heavy drinking. 

 

Weight Gain

Before we talk about how damaging drinking every day is to your insides, let’s talk about how it can affect your outward appearance. Alcohol is known to lead to weight gain. It hits you with a double whammy of causing you to consume an excess of empty calories and makes it significantly harder to burn them off. 

First off, alcohol wreaks havoc on your metabolism. Comprised wholly of carbs and sugar, your body immediately switches to using alcohol as an energy source. This means that the remnants of other fuel sources in your body (i.e. your last meal) get stored as fat. The result? Your body’s fat-burning capability takes quite a hit. 

Secondly, remember all those sugars and carbs we mentioned that alcohol contains? That’s another not-so-sneaky way that alcohol can cause you to gain weight. Beer, wine, and hard liquor are calorie bombs making it easy to drink away hundreds (if not thousands) of extra calories in a single sitting. And don’t even get us started on the sugary juices and sodas used as mixers. 

 

Fewer Muscles

On top of making you gain weight, alcohol can also make your workout less effective, compounding on those weight issues. 

Drinking alcohol after a workout slows muscle development by interfering with muscle repair (specifically, the rate of myofibrillar protein synthesis) that is the key to beefing up. The adverse effects of drinking before a workout can also contribute to this issue, by impairing physical performance during exertion.

Lastly, drinking can interfere with testosterone levels, an essential hormone in muscle development. Binge drinking is particularly detrimental to muscle growth (one study found that male participants who drank about 10 beers over a three hour period experienced a major dip in testosterone levels upwards of 23%) but even the lesser impacts of daily drinking can add up over time to seriously interfere with gains.

 

Digestive Problems

As the first part of the body that makes contact with alcohol, your gastrointestinal tract bears the majority of the brunt until it’s absorbed into the bloodstream. It can cause a host of issues in your digestive tract that interferes with everything from your bathroom breaks to your mental health.

How? By messing with your microbiome, the healthy bacteria that reside in our gut and help out with digestion. 

The disruption of this delicate ecosystem also interferes with the bacteria’s ability to work as a barrier, protecting your stomach lining from highly corrosive bodily acids. Ulcers and inflammation, the precursors to dangerous liver complications, can form. 

 

Weakened Immune System

Those same GI bacteria also play an important role in your immune system. Moderate, bingeing, and chronic drinking have all been linked to increased susceptibility to illnesses like pneumonia and certain cancers, infection, as well as the likelihood of developing complications from those conditions. 

Essentially, alcohol prevents your bacteria from communicating with one another, resulting in an impaired immune response. Your immune system is then much slower and less effective in responding to threats. These adverse health consequences are also partially due to the inflammation that alcohol causes, which itself can lead to a host of undesirable and chronic diseases. 

 

Difficulty Sleeping

Think you can sleep off the effects of drinking every day? Think again. Drinking is notorious for getting in the way of a good night’s rest. Although you might feel more relaxed when you have a slight buzz going, what goes on in your body is quite a different story.

Alcohol consumption causes your heart rate and breathing to speed up. This makes it more difficult to relax enough to get deep sleep and REM cycles, and can simply make it more challenging to fall asleep in the first place. Even then, alcohol suppresses melatonin production, the hormone that controls your sleep-wake cycle. As such, alcohol directly interferes with your body’s circadian rhythm, throwing off your body’s natural cues of when it’s time to rise and rest.

 

If you struggle to cut back on your daily drinking habit, you might have an alcohol addiction. Learn more about recognizing the signs and symptoms of alcoholism and what to do about it. 

The Connection Between Stress & Alcoholism

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April is both Stress Awareness Month and Alcohol Awareness Month–and it’s no accident. The connection between stress and alcoholism has long been recognized by scientists and medical experts although discoveries continue to be made. In this article, we’ll explore how stress can influence how much you drink, how drinking can affect how you respond to stress, as well as the physiological effects of both (and the role they play in the development of alcoholism).  Before we can fully dive into the interconnectedness of stress and how it can influence us to drink or engage in other negative behaviors, we must first understand what it is.

 

What Is Stress?

Stress can be both an emotion and a physical feeling. It is a reaction to situations that are challenging or demanding, known as “stressors”, and it’s not always a bad thing. When stressed, your brain emits hormones that make you more alert, primes your muscles for action, and increases your pulse–think of the “fight or flight” response. This improves cognitive and physical performance allowing for faster reaction times, quicker movements, and better endurance.

 

Types of Stress

Normally, these instances are short-term and the feeling resolves itself quickly once the stressful situation is over with, this is known as acute stress. Cases where the stressor is gone but the stress remains is known as anxiety, another negative feeling commonly associated with alcohol and drug abuse. The most dangerous of all, however, is chronic stress. This is where your body is constantly alert and on edge and can be caused by an ongoing stressor (i.e. feel stuck in a bad relationship or facing financial hardship). It is this type of stress where the potential to abuse drugs – like alcohol – in an effort to self-medicate is greatest. 

 

Factors That Affect The Correlation Between Stress & Alcoholism 

Numerous studies have found a positive correlation between stress and alcohol consumption. However, the relationship is far more nuanced than most realize. Personality plays a major role.  How easily you get stressed and can overcome it are telling determinants of your likelihood to 1)  turn to an unhealthy coping mechanism and 2) developing an unhealthy reliance on it. 

Studies have shown that individuals who are optimistic and focus on the positive tend to handle stress better. Not only that, but they are also naturally less inclined to developing related disorders such as alcoholism. Ultimately, how you handle stress is the strongest indicator of your likelihood to turn to alcohol as well as developing an addiction. Other factors that can increase the likelihood that someone will turn to alcohol to cope with stressful situations and develop alcohol use disorder are:

  • Individuals with a history of AUD
  • Involvement in a natural disaster or another sort of catastrophic event
  • Childhood trauma or mistreatment
  • Drinking alcohol at an early age
  • Being a victim of assault (females)
  • Job loss (primarily in males) 

 A Counterproductive Coping Mechanism

It’s not uncommon to hear people blowing off steam with a glass of wine or a cold pint after a rough day. There is some logic to that as in the short-term, alcohol consumption can generate pleasurable effects and lessen feelings of pain. However, stress’s effects on the body continue despite how relaxed you might feel at the moment. The effects of stress can overlap with the effects of drinking alcohol which can perpetuate a body’s state of stress rather than providing relief. The result: the drinker can feel even worse after drinking and that’s still not the end of it. 

Physically, alcohol can prevent the body from “resetting” as it would in a healthy acute stress response. This state then becomes the new normal, a process known as allostasis. The result: individuals not only suffering from ongoing physical effects of being stressed out but making them feel stressed much more easily. If alcohol is the default coping mechanism, you can see how quickly the situation can spiral. To add even more fuel to the flame, heavy drinking can alter the brain’s chemistry and result in higher levels of cortisol, the body’s main stress hormone. 

The relationship between stress and alcoholism is an apparent one, however, the effects of how quickly this relationship can become dysfunctional are less so. Both stress and alcoholism are dangerous conditions with the potential to be lethal. If you or a loved one has turned to alcohol as a coping mechanism, you are at significant risk of developing a drinking problem (or may have one already). An addiction treatment center can help untrain those compulsions and teach you healthier and more effective coping mechanisms.

 

Sources:

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3797525/

https://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications/AA85/AA85.htm

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3860387/

 

What You Should Know About Alcoholic Hepatitis

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Alcohol hepatitis, also known as alcoholic liver disease (ALD), is one of the three types of liver disease caused by drinking. It’s one of the most severe types of alcohol-induced liver damage and caused over 24,000 deaths in 2019. This condition often precedes cirrhosis (irreversible scarring of the liver) which is considered to be the final stage of alcoholic liver disease as well as liver cancer or complete liver failure.

What Is Alcoholic Hepatitis?

Similar to hepatitis A, B, and C, alcoholic hepatitis is severe inflammation of the liver brought about by infection. Unlike those viral types of hepatitis, however, alcohol hepatitis (as its name suggests) is solely caused by exposure to toxins and therefore is not contagious. 

But how is it caused exactly? When the liver processes alcohol, the resulting byproducts are highly toxic (and more dangerous than alcohol itself). When the liver is overwhelmed, these damaging byproducts can kill liver cells. This in turn triggers dangerous levels of inflammation which interferes with liver function.  

Alcoholic Hepatitis Symptoms

The most common signs of alcoholic hepatitis are directly attributed to impaired liver function. Since the liver’s role works closely with the gastrointestinal system, the symptoms can manifest themselves as side effects related to eating and digestion. These are relatively mild, they include:

  • Low-grade fever (caused by the infection)
  • Abdominal pain or tenderness
  • Nausea and vomiting
  • Fatigue or weakness
  • Loss of appetite
  • Weight loss
  • Jaundice (yellowing of the eyes and skin)

Less common side effects can indicate a more severe type of alcoholic hepatitis. These symptoms can be life-threatening and should receive medical attention:

  • Ascites (accumulation of fluid in the abdomen)
  • Confusion or drastic changes in behavior
  • Kidney failure
  • Liver failure

Both the direct and indirect consequences of such extensive liver damage are a serious health concern. Fortunately, with early enough detection, this condition can be manageable. If untreated, this chronic condition can be life-threatening.

When Does Alcoholic Hepatitis Happen?

There is no clear cut criteria as to how much someone has to drink to get alcoholic hepatitis, While its general cause is known to be long-term, heavy drinking, not all heavy drinkers will experience this acute type of liver damage. Both binge drinkers and consistently heavy drinkers can find themselves at risk, but those who drink on a daily basis have a higher likelihood. Studies have shown that 60 g of alcohol intake for men, and 20 g greatly contributes to the risk factors.  

The exact timeline of when alcoholic hepatitis occurs is unknown, however, the likelihood can be affected by a number of factors such as gender, race, BMI, and quantity and duration of alcohol consumption.

  • Women have lower alcohol tolerance than men have twice the risk of developing drinking-related liver issues
  • Minorities are more likely to develop severe alcoholic hepatitis due to genetic disposition
  • Being overweight can contribute to a fatty liver, a frequent precursor to alcoholic hepatitis

Can Alcoholic Hepatitis be Fatal? 

Yes, it is estimated that 1 in 3 with this condition will die from it. Often, it isn’t until the majority of the liver has been critically damaged that there is any outward indication that there is a problem. By the time pain or some other symptom makes itself known, the liver damage is extensive and the organ is likely in critical condition.

Why Your Liver Is So Important

This vital organ is responsible for a number of essential functions from storing vitamins and minerals to the processing of fats, proteins, and carbs. One of which is to detox toxins from the blood. As the body’s primary method of processing alcohol and other drugs, the liver takes the brunt of drinking’s toll on the body, and continued alcohol consumption can cause irreparable damage. The extent of which can range from impaired liver function to all-out failure. The consequences of either can cause a domino effect of other health issues.

It’s Not Too Late To Get Help

The good news is that if acted upon early enough, alcohol hepatitis can be reversed. The liver has an incredible ability to repair itself, in fact, after part of it has been surgically removed the liver can regenerate itself in only a matter of months. However, continued alcohol damage can destroy this capability so it is imperative that those with this condition immediately cease alcohol consumption. Time is of the essence to get your drinking habit under control but quitting cold turkey is never recommended. Alcohol rehab facilities like the Freedom Center can help safely mitigate alcohol withdrawal symptoms and ultimately, help you achieve life-saving abstinence. 

Sources:
https://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/hepatology/alcoholic-liver-disease/
https://www.uhn.ca/PatientsFamilies/Health_Information/Health_Topics/Documents/Alcohol_and_the_Liver.pdf 
https://www2.hse.ie/wellbeing/alcohol/physical-health/alcohols-effect-on-the-body/the-liver.html
https://www.rnceus.com/lf/lffx.html

Is Alcohol A Drug?

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If you are wondering whether alcohol is technically a drug, you are not alone with this query. People use the term “drug and alcohol rehab” as if these are two separate types of substances, so they must be, right? Alcohol is legally consumed on a regular basis across the globe, but there are regulations and laws banning “drugs” like heroin and cocaine. Considering these factors, it seems a no-brainer that alcohol is not a drug… but wait, what is a drug anyways?

Defining a “Drug”

Wikipedia defines a drug as “any substance that causes a change in an organism’s physiology or psychology when consumed.” They comment that drugs are distinctly different from substances that provide nutritional support, such as food or vitamin supplements. 

Is Alcohol A Narcotic? 

In order to fully answer the question of whether alcohol is a drug or not, we must reframe the question and ask it again: Is alcohol a narcotic?

According to the Oxford Dictionary, a narcotic is “a drug or other substance that affects mood or behavior and is consumed for nonmedical purposes, especially one sold illegally.” This definition seems similar to that of a drug, but with an elaboration on medical use and legality.

Alcohol certainly does affect mood and behavior. It is considered a depressant, meaning that it slows the messages sent between the brain and body. Consequently, it causes slurred speech, decreased motor skills, decreased reaction time, and altered perceptions of reality.

There is no known medical purpose for consuming alcohol. Although, you may have seen alcohol used as a last resort anesthetic or disinfectant in movies. It is just that – a last resort.

The purchase of alcohol is legal in most parts of the world for individuals over a certain age but is not always legal. Generally, alcohol consumption is regulated in some fashion. 

So… for the most part, it sounds like alcohol is a narcotic and a drug. However, alcohol is not considered a narcotic according to the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). According to the DEA, narcotics refer to illicit opioid medications. 

Comparing Alcohol to Other “Drugs”

As mentioned above, alcohol is categorized as a depressant based on how it interacts with our brain and the effects it produces. So why not consider other depressants when addressing the question of whether alcohol is a drug? Other depressants include barbiturates (butalbital, phenobarbital, Pentothal, Seconal, and Nembutal) and benzodiazepines (Valium, Xanax, Halcion, Ativan, Klonopin, and Restoril). These medications are unquestionably considered drugs. Once again, our analysis supports that alcohol is in fact a drug.

So, What’s the Big Deal?

This topic seems to be semantics, but in short, yes, alcohol is a drug. But why does it even matter if alcohol is considered a drug? Well, there are a number of reasons why it is important that people understand that alcohol is a drug. For one, alcohol is a mind-altering and highly addictive substance that affects millions of lives every year. The lack of seriousness placed on alcohol may be a big reason why abuse and addiction are so common. Perhaps if we started looking at alcohol as what it really is – a drug – then maybe people would stop consuming the substance nonchalantly. Additionally, the way a substance is classified does affect the way in which it is regulated. 

We have seen from history that alcohol is ingrained in our culture, and regulating it would not happen easily. What we can do on an individual basis is remind ourselves that alcohol is indeed a drug and its consumption should not be taken lightly if there is ever going to be a reduction in the number of people with alcohol use disorders in America.

10 (Subtle) Signs of An Alcoholic

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Many of us take for granted just how prevalent alcohol is in our lives; we drink to celebrate, to mourn, to relax, to liven things up. And when drinking is such a firmly established social norm it can be difficult to tell when our bottle of vino with dinner or cocktail at happy hour has gone from casual imbibement to addiction. Anyone who has dealt with a substance abuse disorder can tell you that the signs of alcoholism aren’t always as obvious. Depictions in movies and books are often dramatic with overtly self-destructive behavior that leaves their personal, professional, and social life in shambles. But in real life, the signs can be much more subtle and masked by high functioning alcoholism. If you’re worried that you or someone you know may have a drinking problem, here are the 10 subtle signs of an alcoholic that you should look out for:

10 (Subtle) Signs of An Alcoholic

1. You habitually blackout whenever you drink

A wedding, ball game, night out with friends. It doesn’t matter what the occasion may be (if there’s any at all). When you drink, you tend to do so in excess and it often results in a blackout. You may try to set limits for yourself or swear that you won’t be drinking at all, but when drinks are poured, you struggle with controlling yourself. 

2. You turn to drinking whenever you’re stressed

It’s not unheard of for people to have a drink to unwind after a rough day, but when it gets to the point that you need a drink in order to cope, you’ve likely crossed into addiction territory. Using alcohol as an emotional crutch can be attributed to a physical dependence on alcohol to provide your body with dopamine. 

3. Your tolerance has gone way up

It takes a lot to get you drunk, far more than it used to, or you find it difficult to achieve a buzz at all anymore. This is a tell-tale sign of physical dependence and that your body is accustomed to the presence of alcohol. Reaching this point is dangerous. Even though you may not feel the mind-altering effects that you’re used to, your organs are working overtime and can quickly incur permanent damage. 

4. Rationalizing your drinking habits (especially the ones at weird times)

It’s 8 AM – but your mug isn’t filled with coffee. Constantly drinking at odd hours (and making up reasons why you need to do so) is another warning sign that you may have slipped into addiction territory. Rather than waiting for occasions that would normally allow for drinking, you’re now actively seeking ways to justify having alcohol at odd or inappropriate moments. 

5. You get defensive when people bring up your drinking habits

It’s likely that your friends and family will notice signs you’re an alcoholic before you do. And if the amount or frequency with which you drink is enough to be a cause of concern, you likely have a problem. But if your initial reaction is to immediately deny or rationalize your drinking habits without being willing to cut back, it could be a sign that you have developed a psychological addiction to drinking as well. 

6. Drinking by yourself more often

Partaking in alcoholic beverages is usually a social affair – watching a sports game with friends, celebrating a promotion, having a nice dinner. That’s not to say that indulging on your own is inherently a sign of alcoholism. However, doing so frequently is one of the most self-identifiable indications that you are no longer in the realm of casual drinking. Drinking by yourself could mean that you derive more pleasure from drinking itself rather than the social context surrounding it. It could also be that you are aware that your drinking habit is more excessive than what’s considered socially acceptable and don’t want your drinking habits to be seen by others.

7. You have a hard time remembering things

Long-term binge drinking can damage the brain’s frontal lobe. This can result in permanent cognitive impairment and memory loss (referred to as alcohol-induced amnesia) that makes it difficult to operate in everyday activities. 

8. Skipping meals and opting for drinks instead

Forgoing proper meals in lieu of drinking is problematic for several reasons. Skipping meals to opt for an alcoholic drink deprives your body of vital nutrients what is bad for your overall health. But more worrisome is that it’s a clear sign that your priorities are out of whack. Together, the combined effects can transform into an eating disorder which can also a be warning sign of substance abuse. This type of behavior is quite commonplace and anemia and malnutrition are two conditions that often coincide with alcohol addiction.

9. Claiming that you need alcohol to do a task

Claiming that alcohol is needed to carry out some sort of function (i.e. sleeping, working, socializing, staying calm) is a red flag and can be an indication of high-functioning alcoholism. Alcoholics have a tendency to misattribute alcohol as enhancing their ability to perform the task or activity is at hand (i.e. “It helps me sleep better”, “It makes me friendlier”).  This ‘need’ can be physical or psychological but clearly demonstrates that alcohol has now become deeply integrated into someone’s day-to-day life. The far more likely reality is that the individual has gotten to a stage where they use alcohol to keep withdrawal effects at bay which if allowed to happen, comparatively make them feel and perform worse than without it. 

10. Frequent diarrhea or stomach pain

The damage that alcohol wreaks on the liver and kidneys is well-known, but a less obvious connection is that of excessive drinking and the digestive system. Heavy drinking damages the tissues in your intestines which prevents them from properly digesting food. This means the body is far less efficient at drawing vitamins and other essential nutrients from the food you eat (another cause of malnutrition in alcoholics). The other consequence of a disrupted digestive system is GI distress such as gassiness, bloating, and diarrhea. 

See the Signs: You Might Be An Alcoholic

The first step in getting help for alcohol abuse (or any other type of substance abuse for that matter) is recognizing the addiction in the first place. The next is doing something about it. If you are struggling to overcome your alcohol addiction contact the Freedom Center today. Our experienced staff can help you regain control over your life. We are available 24/7 to find the best course of treatment for you.

A Deeper Look at Alcoholics Anonymous: Step One

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Alcoholics Anonymous is based around 12 Steps that are outlined to help individuals who have a desire to stop drinking alcohol. Starting with step 1, each member works their way through understanding each step and taking appropriate actions. Some steps can be addressed quickly, while others may take certain members a longer length of time. One thing to remember is that trying to rush your way through the steps only hurts you. Take your time to think about what each step represents and what it really means for you to “work the step.”

What is Step One of Alcoholics Anonymous?

According to official AA documentation, Step One is as such:

“We admit we are powerless over alcohol – that our lives had become unmanageable.”

There are 2 parts to this step, admitting powerlessness over alcohol and admitting that one’s life has become unmanageable. Although it may seem simple to “complete” this step and move on to the next, it isn’t that simple. Admitting you have a problem is always said to be the first step of recovery, but this doesn’t mean you are heading in the direction of sobriety. This is because once someone realizes or admits they have a problem they may begin to feel like they are unable or unwilling to make the necessary changes. 

Without being able to work step one of Alcoholics Anonymous, you will not be able to properly benefit from the rest of the program.

Let’s breakdown this first step of Alcoholics Anonymous:

What is powerlessness?

When referring to powerlessness in AA, it is referring to the inability to control how much alcohol you drink. Admitting that you are powerlessness over alcohol means that you cannot and never will be able to drink alcohol in a safe manner again. Any thoughts at all of drinking again in the future mean that you have not fully admitted to yourself that you are powerless over alcohol. In this way, admitting powerlessness means accepting that you can never drink alcohol again in the future – even in full amounts.

What does unmanageable mean?

Identifying a life that is “unmanageable” can be subjective, but there are a few clear ways in which one’s life could be labeled as such. If there are responsibilities at work, school, or in your personal life that are not being met, then this is a good sign of unmanageability. When drinking has become the priority and your career, relationships, finances, and other aspects of your life are suffering, these are signs that your life is unmanageable. Accepting that your life is unmanageable is often easier than admitting powerlessness over alcohol.

Help with Step One

Although Step One of AA is something that has to happen within yourself, that doesn’t mean that outside influences can’t help you get there. Working 1 on 1 with a therapist or attending group meetings can provide the ability to hear how others have worked this step and allow you the opportunity to talk out your own through process. Although you can if you desire, there is no need to work any of the AA steps completely on your own. Contact us to learn more about how we support 12 step programs at The Freedom Center.

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