Alcohol Abuse and Inflammation
Alcohol-related inflammation is just one of the conditions that you may develop because of heavy drinking. If you have alcohol-related inflammation, you may also develop further health problems, such as hypertension and liver disease.
Drinking alcohol may only cause short-term effects for people with moderate alcohol intake. However, continued alcohol abuse can put you at increased risk in the long term.
Alcohol use disorder can lead to the development of long-term health problems. Inflammation can be a warning sign to seek addiction treatment. If you’re worried about your drinking habits, don’t hesitate to call our free alcohol addiction hotline at (855) 430-9439, or send a message and learn about our alcohol addiction treatment plans.
How Does Alcohol Cause Inflammation?
Your alcohol intake can play a large part in the health conditions you develop. Heavy drinking can cause inflammation in many areas of the body. This is because of the effects of alcohol on the immune system and enzymes in the gut.
Excessive alcohol consumption upsets the natural balance of enzymes in the gut and affects the liver’s ability to detoxify harmful bacteria correctly. This can cause alcohol-related inflammation throughout the entire body, including the brain.
Alcohol stops the body from regulating chronic inflammation, putting you at a greater risk of developing other more serious health conditions.
Understanding Alcohol-Related Inflammation
Alcohol-related inflammation can occur when you regularly drink excessive amounts of alcohol. Inflammation happens naturally when your body senses it is injured or identifies harmful viruses or bacteria. This causes the body to send blood, proteins, and fluids to the area of concern to help repair the damage.
1. Chronic Inflammation
Chronic inflammation can occur when your alcohol consumption remains constantly heavy. So, people with an alcohol use disorder and a high alcohol intake are at an increased risk. When you suffer from chronic inflammation, your body is constantly responding to “threats.” As a result, organs can break down and lead to other chronic diseases.
2. Chronic Inflammation and Alcohol Abuse
When you continue drinking alcohol excessively, chronic inflammation in the intestines and gastrointestinal system can cause organ damage. Liver damage and other organ damage occur and may lead to chronic diseases like cirrhosis. Inflammation may also extend to the brain and cause damage.
3. Heavy Alcohol Consumption, Chronic Inflammation, and the Immune System
The body relies on its immune system to fight threats like viruses or harmful bacteria. However, heavy alcohol consumption doesn’t only cause chronic inflammation; it also affects the immune system. This means that when you drink excessive amounts of alcohol, your body is under immense strain.
Seven Possible Health Conditions Caused by Alcohol-Related Inflammation
Someone with an alcohol use disorder is more likely to develop chronic inflammation relating to excessive alcohol consumption. This can put you at a greater risk of developing serious health conditions, such as alcoholic liver disease.
Chronic inflammation in people with alcohol use disorders can also lead to other medical conditions, including:
- Cirrhosis
- Hypertension (high blood pressure)
- Alcoholic hepatitis
- Heart failure
- Brain damage
- Jaundice
- Fatty liver disease
Three Ways To Reverse Alcohol-Related Inflammation
Alcohol-related inflammation often responds positively to some medications and lifestyle changes.
1. Alcohol Intake
Reversing alcohol-related chronic inflammation may be possible by reducing your alcohol intake.
2. Medication
Health professionals may also prescribe anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) for chronic inflammation. Others may consider prescribing this medication too risky because of possible interactions between NSAIDs and ethanol, which can cause internal bleeding.
3. Abstinence
As with most alcohol-related medical conditions, the best way to reverse the damage and alleviate symptoms is to quit drinking alcohol.
If you have an alcohol addiction, treating alcohol-related inflammation may only be possible with professional treatment. Send us a message to discuss our treatment options today. You can also call us at (855) 430-9439.
Four Long-Term Health Effects of Alcohol Abuse
If you drink excessive amounts of alcohol regularly, alcohol-related inflammation isn’t the only health condition you may develop. You are at an increased risk of liver damage, leading to liver disease and cirrhosis.
Other long-term health effects of alcohol abuse include:
- Damage to the immune system
- An increased risk of developing certain cancers, such as mouth, throat, colon, and liver
- Cardiovascular damage leading to heart failure
- The development of Alcohol Use Disorder
What Is Alcohol Use Disorder?
If drinking alcohol is causing you health conditions such as chronic inflammation, then your alcohol intake is likely excessive. Excessive alcohol consumption may be a sign of alcohol use disorder. Identifying alcohol use disorder can be easier by being aware of the following signs:
- Alcohol abuse is becoming part of everyday life
- Avoiding situations unless drinking alcohol is involved
- Experiencing health conditions from drinking alcohol but continuing to drink
- A family history of alcohol abuse, alcohol dependence, or alcohol use disorder
- Having to drink more to feel the effects of alcohol
- Taking risks (such as driving) after drinking alcohol
- Craving the effects of alcohol
- Spending a lot of time drinking alcohol, binge drinking, or recovering from the effects of alcohol abuse
These are just some common signs of alcohol use disorder. If you identify with these, you may need to enter treatment.
What Does Treatment for Alcohol Use Disorder Look Like?
Treatment for alcohol use disorder can depend on many factors. These can include your alcohol intake and the effects of alcohol on your overall health and life quality. Some people may require specialist treatment alongside alcohol use disorder treatment if they have alcohol-related diseases.
1. Alcohol Abstinence
Although the overall goal of alcohol use disorder treatment is for you to stop alcohol use, this is often just a small part of it. Quitting drinking alcohol can be hugely challenging, but often the behavioral and mental health effects of alcohol can take longer to recover from.
2. Behavioral Therapies
Chronic alcohol consumption and alcohol use disorder can lead to mental health problems that often need to be treated with behavioral therapy. This usually occurs after detoxification from heavy drinking.
Get Help for Alcohol Addiction Today
Getting help for alcohol use disorder can feel intimidating. However, it’s important to remember that our health professionals have helped many people like you recover from alcohol dependence.
At our treatment centers, you’ll always have an experienced team to provide the support and care you need.
We’ll work with you to create a treatment plan that works for you. We understand that what’s right for one person may not be suitable for the next.
Our alcohol use disorder treatments focus on tackling both the physical and psychological impact of alcohol dependence. We use medical detoxification, inpatient treatment, and behavioral therapies to tackle addiction at its core.
At Zinnia Health, you’ll have a strong support network through every step of your recovery. We know how important it is to have people to rely on when you’re struggling with addiction.
If you’ve decided to enter treatment for alcohol use disorder, you’ve already made progress. Admitting you have an addiction is the first step to recovery. Take the next step and contact Zinnia Health today. today.
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