If all these physical symptoms are not enough for any alcoholic to deal with, there are still more. Alcoholics have an increased risk of heart disease, stroke and cancer, all of which are helped along by chronic, heavy alcohol use. Epilepsy, seizures, nerve damage and a tingling sensation in the extremities are other hazards. Men who drink long and hard enough also can experience erectile dysfunction while women who drink during pregnancy can cause birth defects. While weight gain can have many causes, chronic alcohol use is often linked to abdominal fat buildup, commonly known as an alcohol belly.
Physical Characteristics of an Alcoholic: Recognizing the Signs
When you drink, your body prioritises breaking down alcohol over burning fat. This means fat burning slows down, and excess calories from food or drinks are more likely to be stored as fat, especially around your belly. Everybody is different, so wine will have a pretty different effect depending on your individual body type. But, for some people, drinking wine can cause bloating despite it being low in calories.
Alcohol Consumption and Domestic Violence Risks in Women
Chronic alcohol use negatively affects bone density by interfering with calcium absorption and disrupting hormone levels that support bone health. Women, who are already at a higher risk of developing osteoporosis, are particularly vulnerable. One of the most concerning aspects of alcohol’s effects on women is its disruption of female alcoholic body shape hormonal balance. Hormones play a crucial role in regulating nearly every function in the body, and alcohol’s interference can cause wide-ranging health problems. Being around others who understand these harmful effects, and have lived through them, is part of the importance of women’s only sober living homes. Women produce lower levels of alcohol dehydrogenase (ADH), the enzyme that helps break down alcohol in the stomach and liver.
2. Basic Human Body Dimensions: Alcohol-Dependent In-Patients versus Healthy Control Subjects
- For women, this can be a physical sign that it’s time to reassess your relationship with alcohol.
- During menopause, these hormonal imbalances can become more pronounced, making the effects of alcohol even more detrimental.
- The abuse of alcohol has led to the deaths of many people, young and old.
- A healthcare provider can help you detect any possible issues and create a personalized plan for recovery.
Acetaldehyde makes your body release histamine, which enlarges your blood vessels (known as vasodilation). You task is to limit alcohol consumption and to eat more fruit and vegetables. At The Lighthouse Bali, recovery is not about fixing what’s “broken,” but about reframing trauma and addiction with compassion and evidence-based care. Using therapies like CBT, EMDR, mindfulness, and personalized recovery plans, our team helps clients replace shame with resilience and create empowering new narratives. With ongoing support and aftercare, we guide individuals toward lasting healing and well-being. If someone feels compelled to drink, hides it, or can’t control it when they start, those are red flags.
Alcohol’s Specific Health Risks for Women
Once you have finished puberty, it is largely impossible to change your body shape – your bone structure and proportions are mostly defined. Gaining or losing fat will change the size of your buttocks, thighs, and hips if you are a premenopausal woman, or the size of your waist and abdomen if you are a man or post-menopausal woman. Gaining muscle mass is another way of altering your shape – by targeting particular muscle groups you can accentuate them, e.g., your shoulders to look more athletic, your hamstrings and glutes for longer-looking legs.
Heavy alcohol consumption causes enamel erosion – the amphetamine addiction treatment irreversible loss of the glossy outer layer of teeth. This occurs because alcohol is an acidic substance that wears away enamel. The dietitians at the center believe that there is not a one-size-fits-all approach to weight loss. However, if you are someone who is really looking to lose those extra pounds, it is advised that you enjoy an alcoholic beverage no more than 1-2 times a week.