Many of us enjoy a drink now and then. For some individuals, however, drinking can become a problem. The question is, how much alcohol is too much? Certain signs may tell you if you’re drinking too much.
Excessive drinking can take a considerable toll on a person’s wellbeing. The following areas can be negatively impacted by excessive drinking:
When you drink too much alcohol, you may be too sick to get out of bed in the morning. You may be forced to call in sick to work and lose a day’s pay. If you do make it in, it’s likely your productivity will be limited.
Excessive drinking can also cause one to feel too sick to keep up with housework or personal hygiene.
Relationships with family members may also suffer from excessive drinking. The people you love won’t want to see your mental and physical health decline because of drinking.
Too much alcohol may also cause unstable moods and an inability to participate in social activities.
Approximately 95,000 Americans die every year due to excessive drinking.1 Alcohol-related accidents such as drunk driving or other dangerous stunts can cause one to find themselves in fatal situations.
People who drink excessively may drink directly from a bottle and lose track of how much they consume.
According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, a drink can be determined as:2
Moderate consumption of alcohol means two drinks per day for men and one drink per day for women. Moderate consumption is higher for men since they tend to be larger and metabolize alcohol quicker.
Heavy drinking includes excessive drinking and binge drinking. According to the CDC, binge drinking occurs when women drink four drinks or more and when men drink five or more drinks on a single occasion.4
Heavy drinking refers to an ongoing drinking habit. Heavy drinking occurs when women drink 8 or more drinks per week or when men drink 15 or more drinks per week.3
Alcohol affects the complex structures of the brain. It blocks chemical signals between brain cells, causing slurred speech, poor memory, and slow reflexes. These symptoms occur with intoxication and can become part of everyday behavior when too much alcohol is consumed regularly.
The liver has a hard time processing excessive amounts of alcohol. The overworked liver cells may become damaged, leading to conditions like fibrosis (scarring of the liver), cirrhosis (serious liver damage), or fatty liver disease.
Alcohol causes the body to release endorphins, setting off the reward center of the brain. People become addicted to this endorphin release and feel they need to drink as a reward for a hard day’s work or to cope with stress. Once addiction occurs, it can get in the way of productivity, family relationships, and everyday functioning.
Additional effects of excessive drinking include:
Several signs indicate how much alcohol consumption is too much:
Binge drinking is defined as consuming excessive amounts of alcohol on one occasion. Binge drinking is defined in women as drinking 4 or more drinks in one sitting and men as drinking 5 or more drinks in one sitting.
Studies have shown that adults who are under 35 are more likely to binge drink than any other age group. Additionally, men are twice as likely to binge drink as women. Binge drinking is also more common in people that are educated and that make over $75,000 a year.
Binge drinking causes several harmful side effects, including but not limited to:
Binge drinking over an extended period can severely damage one’s health as well as their daily activities such as work, productivity, and relationships.
Detox is the first step of rehab. It involves removing toxins from the body’s system. It typically takes 72 hours to detox.
During detox, you may experience withdrawal symptoms. Withdrawal symptoms occur as your body adjusts to sober living. These symptoms may include:
Delirium tremens may also occur two to five days after the detox period. Symptoms of delirium tremens include shaking, confusion, high blood pressure, and hallucinations. DT can be fatal but may be prevented with sedatives.
After the initial detox, patients usually stay at the rehab center. During the stay, you will engage in various forms of therapy to overcome underlying issues that caused addiction and to learn how to adjust to sober living.
Medications can also be used to reduce addictive behavior, including:
We’re committed to fostering unbroken recovery. We provide treatment for addiction and dual diagnosis that is both life-long and life-changing. At Stages of Recovery, our continuum of care helps individuals struggling with addiction become the people they were meant to be.
If you’re looking for a safe recovery program for yourself or someone you know, there is hope. Call us today.
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