Alcoholism; Am I An Alcoholic? Do I Have A Drinking Problem?

Long-term health risks

In the long term, alcoholism is associated with health problems such as:

• A variety of chronic diseases, especially liver damage. Ultimately liver damage causes cirrhosis. Alcoholism also triggers pancreatitis, increases the risk of various types of cancer (mainly liver, oral, and gastrointestinal cancer), and induces high blood pressure.
• There is also a very concerning psychological burden behind heavy alcohol drinking. It is often associated with relationship problems, family issues, and more. It may trigger violent behavior and precipitate problems at home, including child maltreatment. Violent behavior may lead to homicide, self-harm, and suicide.
• The risk of unintentional injuries is elevated. Patients with alcoholism are at a high risk of drowning, suffering firearm injuries, falls, burns, and traffic crashes.
• A withdrawal syndrome whenever the patient tries to quit alcohol. It includes profuse sweating, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, irritability, agitation, nervousness, anxiety, an increase in the heart rate, seizures, insomnia, among others.