At AspenRidge, a leading rehab center in Denver, we understand the devastating impact that alcoholism can have on an individual’s physical, emotional, and social well-being. Alcohol can irritate the blood vessels on the surface of your eyes, making them bloodshot. It’s common for hygiene and grooming standards to begin to deteriorate as a person falls further down the path of alcoholism. This occurs as the body attempts to rebalance and function without the usual amount of alcohol in the system and can be life-threatening if not properly treated. The liver is extremely affected by alcohol use, and over time fat can build up in this vital organ causing inflammation and potentially liver failure.

• These conditions don’t have a cure, but treatment can help make symptoms more manageable and have less of an effect on your appearance.
• Additionally, some people have an existing mental health disorder, and they may graduate from social drinking to more frequent drinking because they perceive it relieves some of their psychiatric symptoms.
• Finally, a primary care provider may be able to help you address the physical effects of alcohol consumption, including weight gain.

By Buddy T

Buddy T is a writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Because he is a member of a support group that stresses the importance of anonymity at the public level, he does not use his photograph or his real name on this website. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism, in 2012, an estimated 7.2 percent of American adults aged 18 and older, approximately 17 million people, had a diagnosable alcohol use disorder. Men have alcohol use disorder almost twice as often as women; of the estimated 17 million affected adults, 11.2 million were men and 5.7 million were women.2 Adolescents are not immune.

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Oftentimes, these lines are confused with natural wrinkles due to ageing, but they’re more visibly pronounced due to alcohol abuse. People who have an excessive amount of alcohol tend to have enlarged, dark circles under their eyes; the combination of these symptoms is what’s known as facial coarsening. Recognizing these physical signs is an important step toward providing support and understanding when someone needs it the most. These astronomical figures have led many health and addiction specialists toward creating programs that address mental health concerns and alcoholism concurrently. Being aware of the physical signs of alcoholism and the symptoms of mental health disorders may help families take preventative measures and intervene sooner. While these short-term effects may not seem too worrying, the long-term effects of alcohol on the eyes are serious.

You must see the full picture and consider the all the symptoms of alcoholism that a person is experiencing. The best way to combat the physical symptoms of alcoholism is to address the underlying addiction before it becomes too late. Contacting an alcohol use disorder treatment center can help offer advice on where to begin with recovery and how to get help immediately. If you are worried that your or a loved one’s drinking has become out of control, then contact a treatment provider today. It can lead to liver disease, pancreatitis, some forms of cancer, brain damage, serious memory loss, and high blood pressure.

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Physical signs of alcoholism can include a range of symptoms, from slurred speech and impaired coordination to liver damage and malnutrition. Long-term alcohol abuse can also lead to high blood pressure, heart disease, and an increased risk of certain types of cancer. Additionally, alcoholism can exacerbate pre-existing mental health conditions and increase the risk of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation. If someone begins to slowly neglect the hobbies they used to enjoy or the time they spend with family and friends starts dwindling, it could be because they are spending more time drinking alcohol instead.

• It often affects a person’s health, relationships, and work, yet they continue drinking heavily despite these negative impacts.
• But, every person is different, and how long it may take to see results, if you’re able to see results at all, can vary.
• Seeking mental health and medical advice offers a holistic approach to reducing or eliminating alcohol use.
• It can also cause yellowing of the sclera (whites) from jaundice caused by alcohol and liver complications.
• Alcohol intoxication occurs when a person drinks an excess of alcohol in one period.
• Memory loss, slurred speech and other functional problems come hand in hand with alcoholic drinking.

Heavy drinking over a period of time can cause a physical dependence on alcohol. If you suddenly stop drinking, your body will often experience withdrawal. Over the long term, alcohol abuse can lead to physical illnesses that affect the liver, such as alcoholic hepatitis and cirrhosis. Research also shows a connection between heavy alcohol use and heart disease, respiratory disease, and cancer. Alcohol addiction, or alcohol use disorder, is a chronic mental illness that impacts judgment, behaviors, and a person’s physical health.

Long-Term Effects of Alcohol Use Disorder

The existence of two or three symptoms equals a diagnosis of mild alcohol use disorder, while four to five symptoms is considered moderate, and six or more is considered severe. When it comes to detecting whether or not someone is suffering from alcoholism, a careful observer can often tell by looking at their facial features. Facial features are one of the first visible signs of alcoholism and can be the best indicator in determining if a person has an alcohol use disorder. Binge drinking and consuming alcohol excessively for many years can lead to alcoholic hepatitis. It occurs due to fat build-up in your liver cells, which causes scarring and extreme inflammation.

Because dehydration from drinking can cause dry mouth, bad breath the day after drinking can also occur (2). On average, a 12-ounce beer has about 150 calories, and 5 ounces of wine has about 120 calories (4). You can use online calculators to determine how many calories you consume from alcohol. If you believe you or someone you love may be struggling with addiction, let us hear your story and help you determine a path to treatment. More seriously, this reduced clotting leads to an increased risk of stroke. Alcohol can also lead to excessive sweating – known as alcohol sweats or night sweats.

It’s essential that you reach out to them in a supportive manner and seek professional assistance if needed as this will give them a much better chance at overcoming their struggles with alcoholism. Therefore, it’s an individual’s BAC, not the exact amount of alcohol they’ve consumed, that determines the effects the alcohol will have on them. For example, alcoholism often goes through an exploration phase, an abuse phase, and a dependency phase. A person struggling with an alcohol addiction may experience sudden and noticeable weight fluctuations. Once alcohol consumption has been reduced or stopped, the symptoms should start to improve. Additionally, lifestyle changes may be necessary to address the condition’s underlying causes.

For individuals struggling with alcoholism, recognizing these signs can be an essential first step toward seeking treatment and recovery. Consistently drinking over a period of time leads you to develop a tolerance for the substance. If you suddenly stop drinking alcohol, it can lead to a number of uncomfortable alcohol physical appearance of an alcoholic withdrawal symptoms. It often drives people with alcoholism to keep drinking in order to limit these symptoms. The eyes may appear bloodshot or droopy and people may experience blurred vision and slower pupil response time. Many people also suffer from an oversensitive gag reflex when consuming large amounts of alcohol.