Illnesses you can get from drinking alcohol

Drinking an excessive amount of alcohol can not only leave you suffering the impacts of short-term knocks to your health, but it can have a severe impact on your long-term fitness.

According to the NHS, alcohol misuse is when you drink in a way that is harmful, or you are dependent on alcohol. This comes with many health risks both short-term and long-term.

The dread of a hangover can be enough to put us off drinking for a few weeks, but booze can actually cause far more serious health risks than a headache. Both men and women are advised not to regularly drink more than 14 units a week [one unit equals 10ml or 8g of pure alcohol for more information visit the NHS guidance here ].

The short-term risks of alcohol misuse include:

accidents and injuries requiring hospital treatment, such as a head injury
violent behaviour and being a victim of violence
unprotected sex that could potentially lead to unplanned pregnancy or sexually transmitted infections (STIs)
loss of personal possessions, such as wallets, keys or mobile phones
alcohol poisoning – this may lead to vomiting, fits (seizures) and falling unconscious
People who binge drink (drink heavily over a short period of time) are more likely to behave recklessly and are at greater risk of being in an accident.

The long-term risks of alcohol misuse include:

heart disease - causes sufferers to experience chest pain, possible heart attacks and heart failure. Some sufferers experience other symptoms like heart palpitations and frequent breathlessness.
stroke - the risk of death during a stroke is serious while the effects of living with a stroke can be devastating and can include permanent brain damage, paralysis and more. Having an irregular heart beat, high cholesterol, high blood pressure or diabetes can also increase the risk of having a stroke.
liver disease - symptoms include weight loss, loss of appetite, jaundice, feeling sick, swelling in the ankles or stomach, confusion and vomiting or passing blood
liver cancer - symptoms include weight loss, loss of appetite, jaundice, feeling sick and swelling in the stomach. Additional symptoms include itchy skin and feeling drained and weak.
bowel cancer - symptoms include blood in poo, change in bowel habits and persistent abdominal pain, bloating or discomfort
mouth cancer - symptoms can include painful mouth ulcers, unexplained lumps in the mouth or neck, unexplained loose teeth and numbness or an odd feeling on the lip or tongue
breast cancer - symptoms include a change in size or shape to breasts, discharge from nipples, dimpling on the skin around breasts, a rash on or around your nipple and a lump or swelling in armpits
pancreatitis - symptoms associated with the condition include serious pain, diarrhoea or feeling sick.

As well as causing serious health problems, long-term alcohol misuse can lead to social problems for some people, such as unemployment, divorce, domestic abuse and homelessness. People are being urged to seek help if they are concerned about how much alcohol they consume.

Dependent drinker

A dependent drinker usually experiences physical and psychological withdrawal symptoms if they suddenly cut down or stop drinking, including: