The alcohol side effects come into a person’s life shortly after they consume alcohol for the first time and they can become a problem for as long as the rest of their life if alcohol consumption is continued.  These alcohol side effects vary from person to person, but if a person fails to recognize the warning signs of an addiction to alcohol they could possibly face problems in their future that can include death.  The first of the alcohol side effects that people usually do not think of as a problem are what are known as the short-term alcohol side effects.

The short-term alcohol side effects occur within several minutes of the individual’s first drink and they increase drastically with every alcoholic beverage consumed.  The scientific way to determine the extent of short-term alcohol side effects is that for every one drink you have to wait one hour before the effects have completely left your system, therefore if you have had five drinks, it will take you five hours to no longer show signs of short-term alcohol side effects.  Also, the short-term effects of alcohol are as dangerous as the long-term effects and should not be taken lightly.  Several commonly experienced short-term alcohol side effects include:

- Loss of control
You will have a hard time controlling your physical and mental being. You may blurt out things that you did not mean to, stumble, feel heavy like you cannot move your limbs, and even lose control over the things that you do.

- Depression
You will have ups and downs while under the influence due to your body’s way of reacting to the depressive effect of alcohol.  Many people, while under the influence, start fights for no reason, commit suicide, or cry themselves to sleep over nothing at all.

- Mood swings
You may be happy one minute and sad the next because of the chemical imbalances in your system.

- Vomiting
Your body will want to rid itself of any toxins present, therefore you will vomit if you have consumed excessive amounts of alcohol as your body's way of ridding itself of those toxins.

Although the short-term alcohol side effects are somewhat of concern for a person that is using alcohol for the first time, if someone has is suffering from an alcohol addiction they will show side effects that are long-term alcohol side effects.  These effects are damaging to a person mentally, physically and emotionally and can include:

- Negative Physical changes
Weight gain, aged skin, red appearing skin, and unhealthy skin are all problems that an alcoholic will experience in their lifetime.

- Internal problems
Liver, kidney and heart damage due to excessive alcohol consumption as well as other organ issues and problems with rapid heartbeat and high blood pressure.

- Mental issues
Trouble with both short-term and long-term memory as well as trouble with learning in a class setting or a work environment.

- Financial instabilities
With constant alcohol consumption in a person’s life they will no longer have a drive to excel in the work place or in school and they will no longer be able to keep a steady job because of their label as an alcoholic, therefore a continuing spiral to complete poverty.

- Relationship struggles
Alcohol causes a person to lose their sense of self. They will no longer care about others and their only concern will be about consuming more alcohol despite who they hurt.  This poses problems in the relationship between family and friends as well as a wife or husband.

- Ultimately death
Alcohol side effects will continue to cause a person to lose touch with who they are one piece at a time.  No matter what, they will no longer function normally and eventually they will lose complete control over every aspect of their life.  Whether death occurs due to the actual alcohol side effects or because of the individual’s own choices, death is imminent without treatment.

To learn more about the short-term and long-term alcohol side effects, contact an alcohol addiction treatment specialist today.

About the Author

Marilyn Kegley works with several inpatient alcohol rehab centers to write educational articles about alcohol abuse dangers and treatment options. Her goal is to warn individuals on the dangers of alcohol abuse and help guide addicts to getting effective and successful treatment.