Alcohol is an organic compound used in many ways, and alcoholic beverage, a type of alcohol that contains ethanol, is arguably one of the most well-known. After all, it has good taste, a combination of sweet and bitter. It can help people relax after a stressful day, as it acts as a depressant on the central nervous system.
Alcoholic beverages are a favorite product choice for many since they’re perfect for different occasions and even for those who want to spend their free time alone. In fact, a study in 2018 shows that in the United States alone, more than 60% of Americans consumed alcohol in the past year.
Despite its good benefits, health experts advise drinking alcoholic beverages in moderation because problems may start to appear with excess use of the product. What are these problems? Continue reading to know more:
1. When A Person Develops Alcoholism
Alcoholism is a mental illness where someone becomes addicted to an alcoholic substance. A person with such a disorder begins to crave alcohol uncontrollably and consume more than an individual should drink. Health institutions like Dietary Guidelines For Americans advise men of legal drinking age to consume at least two or fewer alcoholic beverages daily. For women, only one or less.
It is important to note that these guidelines should not be interpreted as a daily recommendation but rather as limits for occasional consumption to minimize the risk of harm associated with alcohol use.
Fighting off alcoholism can be challenging. That’s because the body of an addict may experience withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop or reduce alcohol consumption. These symptoms include nausea, body pain, and diarrhea. Aside from this, the patient may experience irritability and depression.
To combat substance abuse like alcoholism, getting proper diagnosis and treatment in a rehabilitation facility can come in handy. Rehabilitation facilities combine medical treatment and sessions, allowing patients to become more aware of their condition and develop practices that can help them get back to their normal life. Consider visiting rehabilitation websites like jacksonhouserehab.com to learn more about their services.
2. When A Person Drinks Alcohol Only To Be Included
Alcohol is an excellent beverage for a social gathering because it makes people happier. After all, alcoholic beverage consumption makes the human brain produce hormones like dopamine, which is responsible for people feeling pleasure and a rewarding experience.
In addition, intoxication can cause people to engage in reckless behavior, which may seem amusing to their peers at the time. Nonetheless, some people aren’t comfortable with drinking alcoholic beverages because they dislike the smell of alcohol or feel unsafe.
Even so, other friends find this preference uncool and immature. So, they decide to insert peer pressure on that individual. People who don’t like to drink do it anyway to prevent their friends from feeling disappointed and taking away the fun ambiance.
Choosing not to drink alcohol does not necessarily mean a person is uninteresting or unfriendly. Instead, it’s only a matter of individual preferences. To be included, people don’t need to do things they’re uncomfortable doing. After all, absorbing much peer pressure can lead to indecisiveness and a lack of confidence. They only need to be themselves and see if their friends respect their choices.
3. When Drinking Alcohol Start To Cause Complications
There are many benefits one can get from drinking alcohol. Aside from its ability to provide euphoria to consumers, some experts say that drinking alcohol can reduce the chance of getting heart disease and diabetes. However, that doesn’t mean that drinking alcohol doesn’t pose other threats.
For example, drinking too much alcohol can lead to liver damage. The liver filters nutrients that human blood carries, making it easier for the rest of the human body to use them. When they filter alcohol, some liver cells die. The liver can regenerate its lost cells, but if a person drinks too many alcoholic beverages, the liver won’t be able to keep up. Liver damage can cause complications like bleeding disorders and even death.
To identify the medical condition of one’s liver, a liver function test can come in handy. Healthcare providers examine the enzymes and other substances in a patient’s blood. Also, other symptoms like yellowish eyes, dark urine, and abdominal pain may appear.
4. When A Person Start To Neglect Their Responsibilities
Alcohol satisfies people because of its taste and how it works in the human body. Perhaps, it’s too good that some aren’t able to get back up to go to work or attend to their family needs.
After consuming excessive amounts of alcohol, a person may become drowsy or lose consciousness. The day after, they may feel hangover symptoms like dizziness and headache. Despite how wasted they’ve become after their drinking session, because of the fun they had, some would want to beat a bucket once more, barely thinking about what they should do for the day.
Of course, having fun isn’t bad. After all, happiness eliminates the stress that can cause anxiety and depression. But having too much fun can cause an imbalance in a person’s daily routine, neglecting other commitments in life.
A person who starts to neglect responsibilities because of drinking much alcohol may consider not getting out of bed all day while waiting for the night to go out again. Worse, they may consume more alcohol than water even while in bed.
That said, consider scheduling alcoholic beverage consumption weekly. It’ll minimize alcohol serving and encourage more time management for other responsibilities like quality time with family and productive work.
5. When Drinking Alcohol Gets A Person In Trouble
As mentioned, alcohol makes a person feel stupor. That’s because alcoholic beverages reduce the brain’s ability to minimize careless actions. That’s why many drunk people act crazy and seem to lack balance.
Getting drunk can get someone into trouble. As a person gets tipsier, that individual and their companions may start to think of crazy things to do, like colliding their car on a bicycle parked down a street, calling out good-looking women inside the bar, or even yelling at random people while going back home.
If a person has an experience getting themselves into trouble after drinking alcohol, consider not encouraging them to drink as much as possible. If it can’t be helped because of a meaningful occasion, consider giving them minimal serving instead.
Conclusion
Drinking alcohol is well-known, especially among adults. It allows them to regulate stress and enhance companionship among their loved ones and peers. Despite the benefits of alcoholic beverages, there are things to watch out for to maintain a healthy relationship and body, as mentioned in this article.