Battling Beer Addiction: My Daily Struggle With Alcohol

Alcohol consumption is a common activity, often associated with celebration, socialisation, and relaxation. While moderate drinking may be linked to certain health benefits, excessive drinking can lead to mild to severe health issues, including liver disease, heart disease, stroke, cancer, and memory problems. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is characterised by an inability to control or stop drinking despite negative consequences. AUD may lead to personal and professional problems, including issues with productivity, job loss, finances, and relationships. The decision to quit drinking can be challenging and may result in withdrawal symptoms such as shakes, anxiety, insomnia, and cravings. Seeking medical advice and support during the detoxification process is crucial for managing these symptoms effectively.

Alcohol Use Disorder (AUD)

According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), about 18 million adult Americans have AUD, with 28.1 million adults aged 18 and older (10.9% in this age group) having had AUD in the past year. Among youth, an estimated 757,000 adolescents aged 12 to 17 (2.9% of this age group) had AUD during this time frame.

AUD is a disease that causes craving, or a strong need to drink; loss of control, or not being able to stop drinking once started; and a negative emotional state, feeling anxious and irritable when not drinking. Binge drinking is drinking so much at once that the blood alcohol concentration (BAC) level reaches 0.08% or more. Binge drinking does not necessarily indicate AUD, but it is a risk factor.

Heavy drinking can increase the risk of certain cancers and may lead to liver diseases such as fatty liver disease and cirrhosis. It can also cause damage to the brain and other organs. Drinking during pregnancy can harm the baby. Alcohol also increases the risk of death from car crashes, injuries, homicide, and suicide.

If you think you might have AUD, it is recommended to see a health care provider for an evaluation. A health care provider might ask the following questions to assess a person's symptoms:

• In the past year, have you had times when you ended up drinking more, or longer, than you intended?
• More than once, did you want to cut down or stop drinking, or try to, but couldn’t?
• Have you spent a lot of your time drinking or recovering from drinking?
• Did you feel a strong need to drink?
• Did drinking—or being sick from drinking—often interfere with your family life, job, or school?
• Did you keep drinking even though it was causing trouble with your family or friends?
• Did you give up or cut back on activities that you enjoyed just so you could drink?
• Have you gotten into dangerous situations while drinking or after drinking? Some examples are driving drunk and having unsafe sex.
• Did you keep drinking even though it was making you feel depressed or anxious, or when it was adding to another health problem?
• Did you have to drink more and more to feel the effects of the alcohol?
• Did you have withdrawal symptoms when the alcohol was wearing off? These can include trouble sleeping, shakiness, irritability, anxiety, depression, restlessness, nausea, and sweating. In severe cases, fever, seizures, or hallucinations can occur.

The more symptoms a person has, the more serious the problem is. However, it is important to note that treatment is available, and many people with AUD do recover.

Binge drinking

Drinking two beers a day may not necessarily constitute binge drinking, but it is still risky drinking. According to the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA), binge drinking is a pattern of drinking that brings blood alcohol concentration (BAC) to 0.08% or more, which typically happens when a man consumes five or more drinks, or a woman has four or more drinks, within about two hours. This pattern of drinking is considered binge drinking and can have harmful effects on the body and brain, increasing the risk of developing an alcohol use disorder (AUD).

While drinking two beers a day may not fall under the definition of binge drinking, it is still considered risky drinking. Risky drinking refers to consuming too much alcohol too often, which can have negative consequences for health. For men, risky drinking means having more than four drinks on any given day, while for women, it means having three drinks within the same time frame. Risky drinking can lead to liver damage, inflammation, and life-threatening conditions such as cirrhosis. It is also associated with an increased risk of stroke, cardiomyopathy, high blood pressure, and several types of cancer.

If you feel that your drinking is becoming a problem and you are unable to stop at two beers, it is important to seek help. Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a medical condition characterised by an impaired ability to stop or control alcohol use despite adverse consequences. It can be mild, moderate, or severe, and it is important to recognise the signs and seek treatment. Federal and state health agencies, as well as your doctor, can provide resources and referrals to help you cut back or quit drinking.

To summarise, while drinking two beers a day may not be classified as binge drinking, it is still risky drinking, and it is important to be mindful of the potential negative consequences. If you feel your drinking is becoming a problem, there are resources and support available to help you make positive changes.

Heavy drinking

Additionally, heavy alcohol consumption can lead to painful nerve damage, sleep disruptions, an increased risk of cancer, and digestive problems. It can cause inflammation in the stomach lining, resulting in heartburn and nausea, and can contribute to the development of ulcers and chronic inflammation in the stomach, oesophagus, and gut. Heavy drinking can also affect nutrient absorption in the intestines and lead to conditions like pancreatitis, impacting insulin production and increasing the risk of diabetes.

If you are concerned about your drinking habits or feel you may have a problem with alcohol, it is important to seek help. Consult with your doctor, therapist, or an addiction specialist, and consider joining support groups or programmes like Alcoholics Anonymous.

Alcohol withdrawal symptoms

Withdrawal symptoms can begin as early as 6 to 8 hours after the last drink and tend to peak within 24 to 72 hours. However, in some cases, symptoms may occur days later or even weeks later. Common symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include anxiety, nervousness, jumpiness, shakiness, tremors in the hands or other body parts, insomnia, and difficulty thinking clearly.

More severe symptoms of alcohol withdrawal include delirium tremens (DTs), which occur in about 5% of cases. DTs are characterised by severe confusion, agitation, irritability, and vivid hallucinations. People experiencing DTs may see, hear, or feel things that are not there. It is important to note that alcohol withdrawal can be a life-threatening condition, and medical attention should be sought if symptoms become severe.

During the alcohol withdrawal process, it is crucial to have a supportive environment, which includes limited contact with people, a positive atmosphere, healthy food, and plenty of fluids. In some cases, inpatient care and drug treatment may be necessary, especially if there is a history of severe withdrawals or serious health conditions.

The treatment goals for alcohol withdrawal are to reduce withdrawal symptoms, prevent complications, and help individuals reduce or stop drinking alcohol. Treatment may involve monitoring vital signs, administering fluids or medications through an IV, and providing sedatives until withdrawal is complete. Counselling for alcohol use issues is also an important component of treatment.

Alcohol's impact on health

Alcohol is a drug that chemically alters the body and can have a significant impact on health. Even one or two drinks can impair balance, coordination, impulse control, memory, and decision-making, increasing the risk of injuries. Consuming too much alcohol can shut down parts of the brain that are essential for survival.

Drinking alcohol regularly over time or consuming large amounts in a single sitting can have serious negative effects on the body and brain. Alcohol interferes with the brain's communication pathways and can affect the way the brain looks and works. These disruptions can cause changes in mood and behaviour and impair clear thinking and coordination.

Heavy drinking can also damage the heart, leading to conditions such as cardiomyopathy (stretching and drooping of the heart muscle), arrhythmias (irregular heartbeat), and high blood pressure. Additionally, it can cause liver inflammation (alcoholic hepatitis) and, in severe cases, scarring of the liver (cirrhosis), which can be life-threatening.

Alcohol also increases the risk of developing certain types of cancer, including head and neck cancer, oesophageal cancer, and breast cancer. Even one drink per day can increase a woman's risk of breast cancer by 5-15% compared to non-drinkers. Alcohol consumption is also linked to a weakened immune system, making the body more susceptible to diseases such as pneumonia and tuberculosis.

According to health guidelines, no amount of alcohol is considered "safe" or beneficial for health. The harmful effects of alcohol, such as the risk of developing certain cancers, begin at fewer than one drink per day. Therefore, it is recommended that certain individuals, such as those under the legal drinking age, pregnant women, and individuals with specific medical conditions, should avoid alcohol completely.

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