No one wants to see someone they love struggle with an alcohol addiction.

Aside from the change in personality and lifestyle, there are also a number of health risks that can arise. If you or someone you know is dealing with a drinking problem, be on the lookout for some of these issues as well.

Cardiovascular Disease

Excessive or binge drinking can cause the platelets in your blood to clump together into blood clots. Having these clots can lead to a heart attack or stroke. Binge drinking can double the risk of death for people who initially survived a heart attack.

Another heart issue that can arise from heavy drinking is cardiomyopathy, a weakening and eventually failing of the heart muscles. Abnormal heart rhythms such as atrial fibrillation and ventricle fibrillation can also occur. Atrial fibrillation can cause a chaotic twitching that can lead to blood clot and stroke, while ventricle fibrillation can cause rapid loss of consciousness and even death.

Cirrhosis of the Liver

10 to 20 percent of heavy alcohol drinkers develop Cirrhosis of the liver. Cirrhosis is a scarring of the liver due to the constant damage of alcohol on the liver cells. Cirrhosis is not reversible, but if drinking is stopped in time, you can recover from it. However, if the damage is too extensive, a liver transplant may be required to prevent death.

Other alcohol-related liver diseases include alcoholic hepatitis and inflammation of the liver. Symptoms of these issues can include fever, abdominal pain and a yellowing of the eyes and skin known as jaundice. Death can be prevented if the person stops drinking immediately. However, alcohol abuse detox is not something that should be attempted without the help of a professional, as it can be very dangerous for the people involved if not handled properly.

Accidents

One of the obvious side effects of drinking is impaired judgment. This impairment can cause the drinker to make life-altering decisions, like drinking and driving, that can lead to severe injury or even death. The inability to control themselves can lead to other accidents like fires, falls, and fights. Heavy drinkers don’t just endanger themselves, they also endanger anyone they come into contact with.

Birth Defects

Studies show that women who drink excessively while pregnant are putting their child at risk for alcohol related defects like Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. Children born with this defect can have obvious physical defects mental impairment as well as life-long learning and behavioral problems.

Interactions with Medication

Alcohol has a negative interaction with over 150 different medications. Drinking heavily while on certain medications can cause reactions that range from extreme drowsiness to liver damage. Medications will have a warning label listing the side effects of taking them with alcohol, but warnings don’t usually phase binge drinkers.

Alcohol Poisoning

No matter how much or how little you drink, alcohol is a poison. Your body has ways of rejecting it and trying to counter-act the negative effects. When too much is introduced into your system, and your body is unable to handle it, you can suffer from alcohol poisoning. Drinking too much too quickly will affect your breathing, heart rate, gag reflex and body temperature. If immediate medical attention is not sought, it can lead to coma or even death.

Even though drinking is legal, it is still a dangerous drug. Excessive drinking can lead to a myriad of terrible and irreversible medical issues, so be responsible and think before you drink.

The Author, Jennifer Gilligan worked in substance abuse for a while before realizing that many people were missing the resources and information necessary for a promising recovery. Now she spends her time researching healthy ways to recover including invigorating the mind and revitalizing the body.