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Early Warning Signs

There are many early warning signs that you may have a problem with alcohol abuse or dependency, including:

  • Previous unsuccessful attempts to quit
  • Feeling guilty about your drinking
  • Getting angry when confronted about your drinking
  • Planning your day around drinking
  • Experiencing blackouts
  • Losing friends due to your drinking
  • Needing an "eye-opener" in the morning to get you going
  • Having your professional and personal life suffer as a result of your drinking

 

Consequences

There are numerous short and long-term consequences associated with alcohol use.

Short-term consequences of alcohol use include:

  • Decreased visual and hearing abilities
  • Increased aggressiveness
  • Problems sleeping
  • Increase in heart rate and blood pressure, including arrhythmia or the heart skipping beats
  • Impaired coordination
  • Reduced sensitivity to pain

Long-term consequences of alcohol use include:

  • Cancer
  • Nutritional deficiencies
  • Liver disease / cirrhosis
  • Decreased ability to fight off illnesses
  • Low blood sugar
  • Reproductive problems
  • Mental disorders
  • Nervous system diseases; the brain is the first organ to be damaged by drinking
  • Stomach problems
  • Heart disease
  • Sleep deprivation which can cause:
    • anxiety
    • chronic fatigue
    • impaired concentration

Those are just some of the physical consequences from alcohol abuse. There are also effects on your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors. Here are some of the cognitive and emotional effects that correspond to number of drinks consumed:

Drinks Effects on Thinking, Feeling, and Behavior
1-2 Few obvious effects; heightening of existing moods; loss of memory or judgement.
2-3 Slight slurring of speech and disturbance of balance; reduced vision and hearing; greater intensification of emotions; increased reaction time.
3-4 More severe slurring of speech and disturbance of balance; severe impairment of judgement and memory; major increase in reaction time.
4-5 Noticeable uncoordinated behavior; even greater impairment of judgement and memory; major increase in reaction time.
5-6 All physical and mental functions are impaired; trouble talking and standing; severely impaired judgement and memory.
6-7 Suspension of cognitive abilities; almost complete loss of perception and comprehension.
8+ Unconscious / coma / deep coma / death

 

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Written by:

Sonia Duffy, Ph.D., R.N.; Marcia Valenstein, M.D.; Christine Kowalski, M.P.H.; Shara Kilarski, B.S.; Jeffrey Terrell, M.D.; Lynn Gregory, R.N.; David Ronis, Ph.D.; and Fred Blow, Ph.D.

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This site is part of the U-M Health System. The information presented is not a tool for self diagnosis or a substitute for professional care. © 2008 U-M Comprehensive Cancer Center