The Physical Effects of Men’s Alcoholism
You’ve probably heard that moderate drinking is recommended because of the antioxidants in wine. Men are advised to drink a maximum of 2 drinks per day. Women, on the other hand, are advised to have one drink per day. Some experts even say that moderate drinking is beneficial for the heart. However, excessive drinking has many negative effects on men. Men that drink excessively put themselves at the risk of suffering many physical health problems. And men struggling with alcoholism tend to face more difficulties completing their daily tasks.
Once alcohol consumption surpasses the recommended level, its health risks outweigh its benefits. Even though men are likely to drink and engage in other activities, they tend to drink excessively more than women. For instance, men are more likely to drink and engage in risky activities like driving. Such activities and excessive drinking combine to put men at a higher risk of physical injuries or even death.
Men Drinking Habit
Men with a drinking problem seek and drink alcohol compulsively. That’s because when a person uses alcohol excessively and for a long time, they become an addict. Alcohol takes control over the life of a person because it changes how the brain works. Some of the drinking habits of men lead to addiction. For instance, binge drinking for a long time lead some men to alcoholism. Additionally, drinking more than the recommended amount of alcohol can lead to addiction.
When a person becomes an alcohol addict, quitting and regaining sobriety is not easy. In most cases, alcoholics need professional help to quit and regain control over their lives. Fortunately, there are trusted alcohol help phone numbers that alcohol addicts can call for assistance. These helpline numbers have representatives that provide information and assistance that alcoholics need to fight their drinking problem.
Generally, men tend to engage in excessive drinking more than women. This is one of the reasons why more men suffer the physical effects of alcoholism than women.
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s fact sheet:
● About 58% of the adult men drink alcohol at least once in 30 days.
● About 23% of the adult men binge drink at least 5 times per month, having an average of 8 drinks per drinking session.
● Men are twice likely to engage in binge drinking than women.
● The chance of men becoming alcohol-dependent in their lifetime is 17%.
Binge drinking is a prevalent habit among men. This can be cited as a major reason why men suffer more physical effects of alcoholism than women.
Alcohol and Physical Injury
Alcohol impairs decision-making abilities and judgment. And because men are more likely to drink and engage in risky activities like driving, their chances of sustaining physical injuries are higher. For instance, men have consistently higher alcohol-related hospitalizations and deaths than men. Among the drivers involved in fatal traffic crashes, the chances of men having been intoxicated are almost twice that of women.
When a man drinks excessive alcohol, he becomes more aggressive. Consequently, the chances of assaulting somebody else physically when drunk is higher for men than for women. What’s more, men are more likely to commit suicide than women and more likely to be intoxicated when committing suicide. Perhaps, this explains why a woman is likely to call an alcohol helpline trying to get assistance with a drunken male friend or relative.
The major poor decisions that are traced to the physical effects of alcohol among men include higher chances of getting into fights, assaulting women sexually, risky sexual behavior, and committing suicide. All these can cause physical injuries to the drunken person or harm to other people.
Alcohol-Related Deaths among Men
Liver cancer and cirrhosis are the most prevalent health concerns among men with a drinking problem. But, because they do not develop immediately, they may not necessitate calling an alcohol abuse hotline number. Some of these conditions are diagnosed after years of drinking excessively. However, more conditions can cause the death of a man with long-term alcohol dependence.
Research has shown that some health conditions increases death risk among alcoholic men. Researchers compared women and men when doing the research and established the following:
● Liver cancer is twice likely to cause death in men than in women.
● Men are over 4 times likely to die of throat, mouth or esophageal cancer.
● Alcoholic liver disease is twice more likely to cause death in men than in women.
● Alcohol-associated heart disease is 9 times more likely to cause death in men than in women.
Alcoholism increases the chances of developing cancer of the colon, esophagus, liver, throat, and mouth. More than 3% of global cancer deaths are linked to alcohol consumption.
Alcohol and Sexual Dysfunction among Men
One of the reasons why a man can call an alcoholic hotline is to ensure confidentiality and privacy. When you make this call, the information you disclose to the representative that answers the phone remains confidential. So, if you are suffering a sensitive physical effect of alcohol like erectile dysfunction, you don’t have to fear to disclose the information.
Excessive consumption of alcohol over a long period can interfere with the testicles’ function directly. It can also affect the normal male hormones’ production. This can lead to impotence, erectile dysfunction, and infertility. Eventually, the secondary sex characteristics of a man such as loss of chest and facial hair can start to manifest themselves.
Long-term Health Issues
Heavy drinking can cause more serious, long-term health effects in men. For instance, heavy drinking can cause gout. This is an arthritic condition that is characterized by swelling, inflammation, and pain in joints. It’s common among men aged between 30 and 60 years. Once this condition develops, it affects the mobility of a man negatively. Mental health problems like severe neuroses and mild depression are also associated with alcohol consumption. That’s because binge drinking is tied to long-term changes in memory even in individuals that are not alcoholics.
The Bottom Line
Drinking has always been a matter of moderation. If a man drinks until their loved ones start calling an alcoholism hotline number, it’s wise to quit or cut down on the amount they consume. Heavy drinking has many physical effects on men, some of which are long-term. Therefore, if you or your loved ones are concerned about alcoholism or self-control, quitting alcohol might be a good idea.
