Is it Really Worth it? The Consequences of Heavy Drinking

The effects of excessive alcohol consumption can be measured in a number of ways.  The most telling, however, is the toll it takes on the most precious commodity of all:  human life.  According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), from 2001 to 2005, 400,000 deaths were attributed directly to alcohol use.  Worldwide, alcohol is responsible for nearly 4% of all deaths.  In 2004 alone, almost 71 million disability-adjusted life-years (DALY) were lost due to heavy drinking consequences.  This number represents all people who have either died prematurely or been disabled due to excessive use of alcohol.

Heavy Drinking Consequences – The Human Toll
According to recent national surveys, on any given day more than half of the adult U.S. population has consumed alcohol in the prior 30 days.  At least 15% of those polled admitted to binge drinking monthly.  This means that they have had 5 or more drinks at one sitting.  Many studies have indicated that there is a link between binge drinking and a number of health problems, such as heart disease, stroke and liver failure.

Alcoholism and heavy drinking consequences have long been identified as the direct or indirect cause of both death and disability.  Whether the drinker causes his own death through disease, suicide or accident, takes the life of another person, or causes the disability to himself or others, the human toll of heavy drinking consequences is profound and widespread.  A 2008 report issued by the George Washington University Medical Center states that excessive alcohol consumption is the third leading cause of preventable deaths in the U.S.

Heavy Drinking and Disease
Regardless of age, long-term heavy drinking has a detrimental effect on every system of the human body.  Some heavy drinking consequences linked to excessive alcohol consumption include:

• Cardiovascular disease
• Liver disease
• Stroke
• Dementia
• Lowered immunity
• Bone disease
• Cancer

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, an irregular pattern of heavy drinking doubles the risk of heart disease for drinkers.  Heavy drinking releases compounds called acetaldehydes, organic chemical compounds obtained by the oxidation of primary alcohols, into the bloodstream.  Increased levels of acetaldehydes cause blood cells to stick to arterial walls, causing arteriosclerosis and a host of related cardiovascular problems.

Alcohol-induced liver disease is the number one cause of alcohol-related deaths.  According to the CDC, in 2006, it claimed over 13,000 lives in the U.S. alone.

The three types of liver disease are:

1. Fatty liver- A build up of fat in the liver causes it to become enlarged.  Once a person stops drinking the liver usually returns to normal size
2. Alcoholic hepatitis- Inflammation of the liver seen in about 35% of heavy drinkers.  It is characterized primarily by abdominal pain and jaundice.
3. Alcoholic cirrhosis- Scarring of the liver that occurs after approximately 10 years of heavy drinking.  This damage is irreversible and is a contributing factor to liver failure.

The link between alcohol and stroke is also clear.  Even moderate alcohol consumption can increase the risk of stroke by contributing to hypertension. Having more than two drinks per day is a factor implicated in certain heart problems that lead to stroke, such as atrial fibrillation and cardiomyopathy.

Social Effects of Heavy Drinking
In addition to physical heavy drinking consequences, there are many known psychological effects that have a significant impact on society.  Alcoholism often goes hand in hand with depression.  Up to 40% of people who drink heavily have symptoms of a depressive illness.  Research in the last decade has revealed that alcohol has a toxic effect on serotonin neurotransmitters, which release “feel good” compounds in the brain.

In a circular pattern, depressed individuals often turn to alcohol, which in turn depresses them further.  Alcohol abuse often starts with this type of “self-medicating”.  Often, the final result of the fatal combination of alcohol and depression is suicide.  According to the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, of the 32,000 suicides that occur each year in the U.S, about 9,600 have alcoholism as a contributing factor.

Alcohol also contributes to divorce, unemployment and child and spousal abuse.  A study conducted by Rutgers University has shown that a consumption increase of 1 liter of alcohol per capita brings about an increase in the divorce rate of about 20%.  Alcohol is responsible for reduced earning capacity, primarily because the behaviors of a heavy drinker cause lower productivity, fewer promotions and sometimes even job loss.

Economic Effects of Heavy Drinking
Excessive alcohol consumption also impacts the economy.  As part of a study conducted by Juergen Rehm, PhD, of the Center for Addiction and Mental Health in Toronto, the economic impact of excessive alcohol consumption was examined.  Dr. Rehm and his team found that in the U.S., the total annual economic cost of alcoholism was about $234 billion, of which 13% was accounted for by healthcare costs. Productivity losses were the largest cost category, totaling $170 billion.
Researchers claim that cumulative costs associated with drinking accounted for 2.7% of the U.S. gross national product.
Alcohol Consumption- How Much is Too Much?
While excessive drinking is fairly easy to quantify, the definition of moderate drinking is more difficult for experts to agree on.  The beneficial consequences of light drinking for some people create some confusion as to what constitutes too much.  Researchers have found, for example, that light to moderate alcohol consumption in older people can help keep the cardiovascular system healthy.
However, these benefits are not observed in younger people.  Moreover, factors that vary among countries and even regions within a country make a recommendation of alcohol intake difficult to determine.  Many countries show fewer heavy drinking consequences than others, but this is often because of stricter laws and cultural restrictions on the use of alcohol.
Moderation for most people comes down to a common sense approach to alcohol consumption.  The Mayo Clinic defines moderate alcohol consumption as two drinks a day if you are a male 65 years and younger, and one drink a day if you are a female or a male 66 years or older.  At this level, the health benefits of alcohol start to take effect and moderate alcohol intake may actually be helpful.
Of course, individual health factors must be taken into account.  A family history of alcoholism is another red flag for anyone trying to determine how much alcohol is too much.  Those suffering from hypertension, depression or other pre-existing medical conditions should consider abstaining from alcohol even in moderation, due to these pre-existing risk factors, and at all costs must avoid excessive drinking and its attendant consequences.

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