While many of us like to enjoy the occasional beer or cocktail every once in a while, there is potential harm if done in excess. If your drinking escalates and you form an addiction to alcohol, you can do permanent damage to your body. You could harm your immune system, your internal organs, and increase the age of your brain. While we know the risks, excessive drinking behaviors have been normalized in many facets of our society. As a result, many don’t seek help, and it is one of the reasons why we lose 85,000 people per year.

If you think you have a problem, then know that you are not alone. Studies show that one out of 10 Americans over the age of 12 have an alcohol use disorder, and every day, close to 400 people die as a result of excessive alcohol use. Disease and death can start from just about any part of the body as a result of alcohol abuse, so you must practice restraint when drinking. Make a change to today to avoid these potential issues. 

1. Weakens Your Immune System

The first health risk we’ll discuss is perhaps the most dangerous, and that is the damage that excessive drinking can do to your immune system. If you drink more than three to five drinks per night, your immune system could be compromised. As a result, the system that normally protects you from illness or infection is left dysfunctional, leaving you defenseless. 

The World Health Organization has said that this advanced alcoholism can be so bad that it can increase your chances of developing contagious viruses like COVID-19. However, if you stop drinking now, your immune system can start to repair itself instantly. That being said, it can take months to years for your system to bounce back, so it is important to make a change sooner than later.

2. Acid Reflux

A lesser-known health risk of excessive drinking is acid reflux. When you drink, the alcohol directly affects and increases the acid production in your stomach and destroys the lining, which is why you feel discomfort associated with acid reflux. 

This discomfort manifests as heartburn, difficulty swallowing, pain in the chest, and intolerance to certain foods, among other issues. Once you start to have these symptoms, they will only get worse the more you drink.

3. Drinking Affects Your Brain

We all know that drinking can make you forgetful and affect your decision-making skills, but that is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how your brain is affected. When you become a chronic drinker, you can actually speed up the aging of the brain, which can impair your thinking and absorption of knowledge in the future. 

While scientists are still determining the extent of the damage that a quickly aging brain can have, it is clear that every additional drink causes additional harm. Smoking can also have a similar effect, and since drinking and smoking are both habits for many alcoholics, it can mean major issues down the road.

4. Osteoporosis

Alcohol addiction can be so detrimental that it can cause pain all the way to the bone. That is because chronic drinking can lead to osteoporosis — where your bones will weaken to the point that if you fall down, you could fracture the bones so that you are unable to walk or move without incredible pain. 

The issue happens because alcohol interferes with your calcium and vitamin D production. You may not realize that you have osteoporosis, but if you don’t stop drinking, then the problem will get worse.

5. Decreased Heart Health

Excessive drinking over a long period of time can cause major issues for your heart, including serious ailments like high blood pressure, irregular heartbeat, and stroke, which can be deadly. 

Keep in mind that one drink here or there or even once per day will likely not put you in harm’s way, but if you drink more than five beverages a day regularly, then you could also start to develop alcoholic cardiomyopathy. This is when your heart actually changes shape, putting you more at risk of heart failure and possibly death.

Know When To Get Help

If you notice that your health is quickly deteriorating, you cannot pass an alcohol test for a job, you can tell that you are losing friends, or you just know that your drinking has to stop, then something needs to change. Sometimes, it may not be as obvious. The good news is that there are online quizzes that evaluate behaviors associated with alcoholism. Developed by the World Health Organization, these questions will ask about your drinking frequency and how parts of your life are being affected. 

The results of the quiz may be what you need to finally get the help that you need. It won’t always be easy, but with a determination to improve your life, you can kick this deadly habit. You can find help by going to a local support group, taking a 10-step program, or calling an online hotline.

As you can see, there are many health risks associated with chronic drinking that can only get worse over time. If you need help, then seek it out today, and you can have a healthier future.