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Since the death toll caused by alcohol abuse is so high, it is important to understand the ways in which alcohol can kill someone. The major causes of alcohol-related death are alcohol poisoning, cancer, car accidents, heart failure, liver damage, and violence. There are over 7 billion people on Earth, and about 2.3 billion of them may be classified as alcohol consumers.
- Alcohol is a known carcinogen, a substance which increases the risk of cancer.
- If saying no to alcohol makes you feel uncomfortable in front of people you know, blame your parents or another adult for your refusal.
- Over half of alcohol-related deaths are because of health effects from drinking too much over time.
- Alcohol can kill you if you drink it in a toxic form, and it’s important to understand what constitutes a toxic dose.
Drivers with a BAC of 0.08 or more are 11 times more likely to be killed in a single-vehicle crash than non-drinking drivers. Some states have higher penalties for people who drive with high BAC (0.15 to 0.20 or above) due to the increased risk of fatal accidents. Societal factors include level of economic development, culture, social norms, availability of alcohol, and implementation https://ecosoberhouse.com/article/5-ways-alcohol-can-kill-you-end-stage-alcoholism-death/ and enforcement of alcohol policies. Adverse health impacts and social harm from a given level and pattern of drinking are greater for poorer societies. Alcohol can increase your risk for high blood pressure, which can put you at risk for a heart attack or a stroke. And while alcohol is a liquid, it can still pack on empty calories, and drinking too much may lead to obesity.
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Doctors often overlook alcohol as a contributing factor to an illness, such as congestive heart failure or atrial fibrillation. This approach to healthcare is slowly beginning to change as more healthcare professionals are trained to understand the signs and symptoms of substance use disorders and best practices in addiction treatment. However, we still have a long way to go before insurance companies recognize and provide coverage for substance use disorders on par with other chronic diseases. This is the most severe form of alcoholic-related liver damage. With cirrhosis, healthy, living liver tissue is replaced with nonfunctioning scar tissue. After about ten years of heavy drinking, up to 20 percent of alcoholics will develop cirrhosis.
Here’s what you need to know about the damaging effects of alcohol abuse. In contrast, more than half (57%, or 3.1 billion people) of the global population aged 15 years and over had abstained from drinking alcohol in the previous 12 months. A variety of factors which affect the levels and patterns of alcohol consumption and the magnitude of alcohol-related problems in populations have been identified at individual and societal levels. A significant proportion of the disease burden attributable to alcohol consumption arises from unintentional and intentional injuries, including those due to road traffic crashes, violence, and suicide. Fatal alcohol-related injuries tend to occur in relatively younger age groups.
How Can Alcohol Kill You?
Binge drinking too often can make it harder to fall asleep and stay asleep. It can also increase snoring and sleep apnea, making it hard to get a good night’s rest. Heavy drinking can hamper your immune cells from fighting off viruses and bacteria. It also can harm your liver, which plays an important role in your immune system by making antibacterial proteins. Men are twice as likely to develop cirrhosis and four times as likely to develop liver cancer. The effects of alcohol can range from mild, such as skin flushing, to more severe symptoms such as passing out or vomiting.
Women who drink during pregnancy run a serious risk of damaging their fetuses. Relatives, friends and strangers can be injured or killed in alcohol-related accidents and assaults. Genetic factors make some people especially vulnerable to alcohol dependence.
How Many Steps a Day Should You Take to Improve Your Heart Health?
Alcohol poisoning happens due to excessive alcohol consumption. When someone drinks too much (alcohol overdose), they are at risk of alcohol poisoning. Alcohol poisoning can occur with as little as four drinks for women and five drinks for men within 2 hours. At this stage, the person has taken too much of a liking to alcohol. They may drink more frequently each day or drink excessive amounts when drinking socially. Having more than 5 drinks in 2 hours is commonplace (and problematic).
Unfortunately, laws don’t always stop people from doing things they shouldn’t do. Reach out to a treatment provider for free today for immediate assistance. People who drink regularly also often have problems with school. Drinking can damage a student’s ability to study well and get decent grades, as well as affect sports performance (the coordination thing).