Find support for yourself and other family members in a rehab family program. Go to an Al-Anon or Alateen meeting or set up an appointment with a mental health professional. At the end of the day, the person with addiction has to be willing to accept help. While only a healthcare provider can diagnose an alcohol use disorder, there are several physical and behavioral signs that may indicate an individual struggles with their alcohol use.

Because the condition is progressive, these symptoms may increase over time in terms of the number of symptoms, their severity, and their impact. Many people with alcohol use disorder hesitate to get treatment because they don’t recognize that they have a problem. An intervention from loved ones can help some people recognize and accept that they need professional help.

Products & Services

As brain chemistry changes, continued alcohol use complicates existing mental health issues or triggers new conditions. These are physical responses to psychological issues caused by alcohol abuse. The signs of alcoholism that people typically think of focus on behaviors, but there are also physical symptoms that can occur from alcohol abuse. Read on to learn about the short-term and long-term physical repercussions of excessive drinking on our health. By the time a person is in end-stage alcoholism, there can be no denying that drinking has taken over their life and damaged their health.

If you have a friend or family member who is struggling with alcoholism you may notice that they frequently experience broken bones, head injuries and other physical accidents. Alcohol can enlarge the blood vessels in the face causing red patches on the skin, particularly around the nose and cheek area. These blood vessels often burst or over-dilate, resulting in spider veins and noticeable red spots across the face. A person struggling with an alcohol addiction may experience sudden and noticeable weight fluctuations. Even if your loved one seeks help, you may still need help and support to overcome the effects. Many people refer to alcoholism as a “family disease” because it can have a major impact on all members of the family whether they realize it or not.

Physical Symptoms of Alcohol Addiction

Symptoms of alcoholism vary, but in this piece we’ll focus on some of the physical signs of alcohol dependence. It can help to give you a clearer picture of the ailments, sensations and changes to your body that might happen as a result of alcoholism. Alcoholism presents long-term health risks because the body’s defense systems cease to function normally. The body systems are an intricate network, so the breakdown of one or more systems has detrimental effects on the others. Even if you receive medical treatment, your body may not have the ability to heal. In late-stage alcoholism, there is a greater risk of having multiple disease factors coincide.

• Recognizing these signs can make the difference between early intervention and a life-long battle with addiction.
• In some cases, alcohol withdrawal can present heightened risks and even lead to fatality.
• The relationship between mental health conditions and alcohol use disorder is complex.
• Over time there is a progression of liver disease from hepatitis (inflammation) to fibrosis (hardening) and eventually to scarring of the tissue (cirrhosis).
• Unexplained bruises and scrapes may be observed more frequently and alcoholics can have reduced platelet counts and other clotting factors, making them more likely to bruise.

In some people, the initial reaction may feel like an increase in energy. But as you continue to drink, you become drowsy and have less control over your actions. Because denial is common, you may feel like you don’t have a problem with drinking. You might not recognize how much you drink or how many problems in your life are related to alcohol use.

I’m In Recovery

Experts recommend avoiding excessive amounts of alcohol if you have diabetes or hypoglycemia. A damaged pancreas can also prevent your body from producing enough insulin to use sugar. Dehydration-related effects, like nausea, headache, and dizziness, might not appear for a few hours, and they can also depend on what you drink, how much you drink, and if you also drink water. If you are concerned that you or physical characteristics of alcoholics someone you know is dealing with an alcohol use disorder, seek help by getting in touch with our team here at OK Rehab. The most effective treatment for alcoholism involves a stay at a rehabilitation centre or specialised treatment programme, either as an inpatient or outpatient. Alternatively, the individual may replace food with alcohol and instead lose weight, often appearing gaunt and undernourished.