Liver disease: Binge drinking raises risk more than overall intake

Try to make those types of activities take a backseat to other hobbies. In some cases, the people around you might continue to pressure you to drink. Perhaps you’re worried that they’ll think less of you if you don’t drink more. Keep in mind that people who really care about you will accept your decision.

Short-term effects and health risks of binge drinking

How quickly a person’s body absorbs alcohol binge drinking may depend on their sex, age, and body size. But it typically takes four or more standard drinks for women and five or more standard drinks for men to reach a BAC of 0.08% during a 2-hour binge drinking period. The National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism defines binge drinking as a pattern of drinking alcohol, typically within a 2-hour period, which brings a person’s BAC to 0.08% or higher. A person’s BAC is the percentage of alcohol in their blood, and in the United States, a BAC of 0.08% means the person is legally intoxicated.

Binge drinking vs. alcoholism

The 37 million binge drinkers had about one binge per week and consumed an average of seven drinks per episode. More research shows that even a single episode of binge drinking can have serious effects on all parts of your body, not just your brain. Binge drinking can also cause immediate harm as well.

National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism (NIAAA)

So, if you are planning a pregnancy, it is a good time to stop drinking alcohol or reduce the amount you drink. Lots of problems are linked to binge drinking, and not all of them are obvious or happen straight away. If you or someone you love needs treatment for alcohol abuse, you are not alone. Contact the First Step Behavioral Health specialists to learn about our holistic treatment and recovery support programs.

At this point, you may have even experienced some of the negative effects outlined above. The most severe effect of prenatal alcohol exposure is fetal alcohol syndrome (FAS). If you avoid binge drinking you can greatly reduce your risk of contracting a sexually transmitted disease, having an unwanted pregnancy, or being sexually assaulted.

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If you are pregnant or planning to become pregnant, it is recommended that you do not drink at all. Drinking too much can also make managing other health problems and conditions more difficult, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and others. John C. Umhau, MD, MPH, CPE is board-certified in addiction medicine and preventative medicine. He is the medical director at Alcohol Recovery Medicine. For over 20 years Dr. Umhau was a senior clinical investigator at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism of the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Therefore, drinking more water won’t necessarily protect you from a hangover the next day. The only sure way to reduce or avoid a hangover is to drink less alcohol. For example, you can resolve to stick to one or two drinks during your outing with friends. To keep that limit in mind, consider writing it down, setting a reminder on your phone, or telling a friend about your intentions.

• When you feel isolated or lack direction and purpose, it’s common to turn to alcohol and other drugs to fill that void.
• Pursue new interests with them that don’t involve drinking.

At American Addiction Centers (AAC), we understand the importance of providing safe and effective alcohol addiction treatment. We have treatment facilities across the country with programs focused on providing individualized treatment plans to best support you. Call to speak with a compassionate admissions navigator who is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.