Physical Effects of Binge Drinking

Know the Physical Effects of Binge Drinking and Learn how to Detect an Addict

Through research, we know that individuals who binge on alcohol, especially as teenagers, are more likely to become alcoholics later on. If you are a binge drinker, or know of someone who binges, you must try and get help. The physical effects of binge drinking include serious and irreversible damage to the liver. Connect with White Sands Treatment today at (877) 855-3470 for further information on how to help someone with a drinking problem.

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), there are certain groups of people who should abstain completely from alcohol consumption.

• If you are on medications that are contraindicated by alcohol, then you should not drink.
• If you are trying to become pregnant or are already pregnant, then you should not drink.
• Do you have a medical condition that is aggravated by alcohol consumption? Then you should not drink.
• If you are planning on driving a car, then you should not drink.

Binge drinking is defined as a pattern of consumption that brings the blood alcohol level (BAL) of an individual to 0.08 grams per deciliter. Typically, to reach a blood alcohol level of 0.08, a woman must consume four drinks in two hours; a man must drink about five drinks in two hours.  There are always exceptions, for example, a very petite person who may reach 0.08 much more quickly than an average sized woman. Binge drinking means that you consume four or five drinks in the same setting on at least one day in the past month.

Binge Drinking Symptoms

It is of the utmost importance to realize that the physical effects of binge drinking are not only dangerous – but they can be deadly. Alcohol poisoning happens when the blood alcohol content of the individual is high enough to impair the them to the point of risk and danger. Several factors influence blood alcohol content:

• Ethnicity
• Age
• Experience
• Gender
• How much food one has eaten prior to drinking

Binge drinking can lead to alcohol poisoning. Binge drinking symptoms that may indicate alcohol poisoning include:

• Hypothermia
• Vomiting
• Confusion
• Seizures
• Irregular breathing
• Slowed breathing

Physical effects of binge drinking include feeling sick and coordination being decreased. Decreased coordination can lead to injury if you fall or crash your car. Judgement is impaired after drinking, which can lead to driving a car, acting violently, or having unintended sexual encounters without using protection. Physical effects of binge drinking include impaired gag reflex – which can lead to individuals choking on their own vomit – and eventually dying while they are asleep.

Long term effects of binge drinking include cardiovascular diseases such as stroke and high blood pressure. Other long term effects of binge drinking include sexual dysfunction, liver disease, and neurological damage. Not to mention, if a pregnant woman engages in binge drinking, the child could be born with fetal alcohol disorder.

Shockingly, alcohol (arguably the most harmful of all addictive substances) is legal and socially acceptable. In college, binge drinking is almost part of the culture on campuses around the country. When you go to college, drinking is just a “harmless” part of the experience. Perhaps this is why alcoholism afflicts so many.

Among the risks associated with binge drinking, is the fact that psychiatric disorders may develop that are irreversible. If you are worried about a family member who regularly binges on alcohol, you should try to help them. At White Sands Treatment, we understand that binge drinking may result in death. We can help guide you on how to discuss your concerns with your loved one in a productive manner. It is not easy to discuss something so personal with someone – especially when they are not particularly keen to it.

If you or a loved one needs help with abuse and/or treatment, please call the WhiteSands Treatment at (877) 855-3470. Our addiction specialists can assess your recovery needs and help you get the addiction treatment that provides the best chance for your long-term recovery.