The Dangerous and Fatal Consequences of Alcohol Abuse

We take a look at how alcohol abuse and addiction can kill you and the importance of seeking medical supervision throughout the detox process.

Not only does excessive alcohol use kill, it also robs people of their health, quality of life and years of life. The CDC states that alcohol abuse can shorten the lives of users by an average of 30 years. Alcohol abuse can contribute to or cause:

• Cancer, especially liver cancer
• Cirrhosis
• Stroke
• Brain damage
• Hypertension (high blood pressure)
• Cardiomyopathy (abnormal heart muscle)
• Heart disease
• Fetal damage, low birth weight, premature birth
• Higher incidents of accidental injuries
• Higher risk of violence, homicide, suicide
• Alcohol addiction

Statistics show the greatest cause of alcohol-related death for men is hemorrhagic stroke. Women who abuse alcohol are more likely to die from hypertension, which damages blood vessels, heart, kidneys, and other organs.

Alcohol-Related Deaths in Texas

Approximately 88,000 people die every year in the U.S. due to alcohol-related causes, many of which are traffic fatalities. According to Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) Texas often leads the country in alcohol-related driving deaths.

Studies have shown the number one reason for alcohol-related deaths in some states is due to liver disease, suicide or homicide, rather than traffic accidents. However, the highest number of alcohol-related deaths in Texas is from motor-vehicle crashes.

Article Source: ‘Alcohol Related Deaths in Texas’

How Death Can Occur During Withdrawal

While it’s true that the average person could certainly remove alcohol from their diet without consequence, others who may be struggling with alcohol abuse should, in fact, be mindful of potentially life-threatening repercussions of stopping drinking outright.

Although it’s uncommon, severe alcohol withdrawal symptoms can actually lead to death during the addiction recovery process. This can happen in a number of different ways, most commonly among alcoholics attempting recovery without medical supervision.

As with any addiction, repeated long-term consumption of alcohol causes chemical changes in the brain over time. Once the brain develops a dependency on alcohol, it becomes nearly impossible for the user to function without it. For an alcoholic, consuming alcohol can seem necessary for survival and for daily living. Remove that substance abruptly and the brain becomes confused and begins to panic, inducing symptoms that can range from mild and tolerable to severe and potentially fatal.

Ask any recovering alcoholic and they may tell you that the detox process often made them feel as if they were dying. Of course, we do know that withdrawal itself is not a cause of death. However, there are two notably concerning symptoms of withdrawal that are linked to the occasional death of recovering alcoholics.

• Seizures: Those who have been drinking heavily for several years are more likely to experience seizures during the detox and withdrawal process. This can lead to choking, aspiration, or physical injury due to uncontrollable convulsions.
• Delirium Tremens: Otherwise known as “DTs,” this serious condition presents a number of dangerous symptoms of withdrawal, such as confusion, disorientation, hyperactivity, seizures, heart attack and stroke.

To learn more about the potential dangers of alcohol withdrawal as well as what you can do to help someone struggling with a drinking problem check out the full article ‘Can You Die From Alcohol Withdrawal’