Binge Drinking: What It Does to Your Body

In all scenarios, all it takes is one bad drunken decision to turn a social outing into a amphetamine addiction treatment potentially serious injury. Federal and state health agencies also offer resources and can refer you to someone who can help.

Brain development in young adults

  • But the definition of what constitutes a binge-drinking episode may surprise you.
  • They can engage in drinking and other risky behaviors without parents around.
  • The less alcohol you drink, the lower your risk for these health effects, including several types of cancer.

Current alcoholic beverage labels in the US warn of the risks of driving under the influence of alcohol, adverse effects on general health, and risks for a developing fetus — but there’s no mention of cancer. At PAX Memphis Recovery Center, our goal is to furnish https://bozidesign.co.uk/2020/11/02/10-reasons-why-alcohol-ruins-relationships/ readers with the latest and most precise addiction and healthcare insights available. Our certified medical reviewers, specializing in mental health and addiction medicine, are committed to aiding readers and potential clients in making well-informed choices regarding their treatment and recovery. We strictly adhere to accuracy standards, relying solely on reputable sources for the information provided on our website.

Understanding excessive drinking

describe the dangerous effects of binge drinking

Limit the number of drinks you have during social events, and try to alternate alcoholic drinks with water to stay hydrated and slow down your drinking pace. Signs that a person may have alcohol poisoning long-term effects of binge drinking include extreme confusion, vomiting, seizures, pale skin, or a loss of consciousness. Furthermore, large quantities of alcohol interfere with the gag reflex and can cause a person to choke if they have been vomiting. In other words, without a rapid response, binge drinking to the point of alcohol poisoning can have fatal outcomes. While pregnant women should never drink alcohol, there are still many scenarios where this is evident.

describe the dangerous effects of binge drinking

Binge Drinking Health Effects

Animal models that reflect these patterns of alcohol exposure are needed. Research has demonstrated that long-term heavy drinking weakens the heart muscle, causing cardiomyopathy. Alcohol misuse can also lead to high blood pressure, an irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia), or increased heart rate. Chronic, heavy drinking raises the risk for ischemic heart disease (heart problems caused by narrowed arteries) and myocardial infarction (heart attack). Each year, thousands of college students end up in the emergency room because of alcohol poisoning.

What is binge drinking and what does it do to your body?

Prevalence of binge drinking in the past 30 days among 12- to 20-year-olds, by age, sex, and race/Hispanic origin, as reported in the 2013 NSDUH. To put this into context, a “standard drink” in the United States contains roughly 14 grams of pure alcohol, which is found in 12 ounces of beer, 5 ounces of wine, or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits. Understanding what constitutes a standard drink is crucial in recognizing binge drinking behaviors.

Tips to change your relationship with alcohol

If you drink during pregnancy your baby might develop fetal alcohol spectrum disorder (FASD). This is because alcohol can cross into your unborn baby’s bloodstream. Holistic approaches like mindfulness and stress management can complement traditional methods, addressing the emotional challenges of recovery. Your body can only process about one unit of alcohol per hour (watch our What is a Unit? animation to find out more). Information and shareable resources to help others choose to drink less alcohol and be their best. These effects can also impact the safety and well-being of people around you.

  • Each year, thousands of college students end up in the emergency room because of alcohol poisoning.
  • According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), binge drinking occurs when individuals consume enough alcohol to raise their blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08% or higher.
  • Too much alcohol affects your speech, muscle coordination and vital centers of your brain.
  • While many believe that alcohol abuse is not as serious as other forms of substance abuse, binge drinking and heavy drinking can cause severe and life-threatening harm.

Correlates of Adolescent Binge-Drinking Trajectories: Risk Factors and Young-Adult Outcomes

This puts you at greater risk of accidents, alcohol poisoning and other short- and long-term health issues. Binge drinking results in an elevated blood alcohol concentration (BAC). Alcohol is available in many social situations like sporting events, happy hours, parties, and barbeques.