The Risks of Heavy Drinking

The Risks of Heavy Drinking Addiction Alcohol Use Print The Risks of Heavy Drinking By Buddy T facebook twitter Buddy T is an anonymous writer and founding member of the Online Al-Anon Outreach Committee with decades of experience writing about alcoholism. Learn about our editorial policy Buddy T Medically reviewed by Medically reviewed by Steven Gans, MD on June 13, 2016 Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital. Learn about our Medical Review Board Steven Gans, MD Updated on May 04, 2019 Getty Images More in Addiction Alcohol Use Binge Drinking Withdrawal and Relapse Children of Alcoholics Drunk Driving Addictive Behaviors Drug Use Nicotine Use Coping and Recovery If you drink more than the recommended guidelines for alcohol consumption, you may be wondering what exactly are the risks. What is the harm in drinking too much alcohol? The recommended guidelines for low-risk drinking is four or fewer drinks a day for men and no more than 14 drinks a week. For women, its three or fewer drinks a day and no more than seven drinks per week. If you drink more than that, your drinking pattern is considered high-risk, or heavy drinking. Risk for Alcohol Use Disorders If you are a heavy drinker, the first risk that you face is developing an alcohol use disorder. Only 2% of people who drink at the low-risk level are ever diagnosed with alcohol abuse or alcohol dependence. But if you exceed the recommended levels, that percentage increases significantly, according to extensive research by the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA). If you exceed those guidelines regularly, your risk of developing alcoholism can increase to 50%. If you develop an alcohol use disorder, according to research, you also run the risk of developing other personal problems, such as losing your drivers license, losing your job, and having problems with relationships. Heavy drinking is linked to many personal negative consequences. Risk for Increased Health Problems Scientific research has linked heavy drinking to a wide range of effects on your health. Almost every system in your body can be negatively affected by alcohol.  Heavy drinking has been shown to cause or contribute to the following health conditions: Liver disease or cirrhosis of the liverBrain damage or dementiaHigh blood pressureIrregular heartbeatCancer (alcohol has been linked specifically to head and neck cancers, breast cancer, colon cancer, and liver cancer) Risk for Injury While Intoxicated Heavy drinking also significantly increases your chances of becoming the victim of an injury - inside the home and out. Alcohol impairment or intoxication greatly increases your risk of injuring yourself or being injured by others. According to the latest statistics, alcohol is a factor: In 40% of fatal highway crashes, suicides, and fatal falls.In 50% of sexual assaults and trauma injuries.In 60% of all fatal fires, drownings, and homicides. Risk for Birth Defects If you drink heavily during pregnancy, you increase the risk of your baby developing a range of disorders known as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders (FASD). The most severe effect of prenatal alcohol exposure is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). It is not known if any amount of alcohol is safe to drink while you are pregnant. If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, it is recommended that you do not drink at all. If you drink and it is possible that you could become pregnant, frequent home pregnancy testing can help protect your child from prenatal alcohol exposure. Getting Help for Alcohol Use Disorders If you are an at-risk or heavy drinker, you may want to read how other drinkers say their health has been affected by their alcohol consumption. If you have experienced negative health effects, you may want to seek help in cutting down your alcohol consumption or trying to quit.