Seeing the Signs of Binge Drinking

Binge drinking is an issue that many men and women face daily. When one drink becomes two, three, or many more, it can feel nearly impossible to stop.

However, the risks that arise physically, socially, or professionally are worth considering. Health consequences such as heart disease, high blood pressure, or liver failure are only a few.

Alcoholism is an addiction that many are not even aware of, but so many are affected by. Seeking treatment for addiction is one of the best ways to get your life back on track. If you are thinking to yourself “does rehab work?”, keep reading to find out why it might be the best option for you.

First, let’s get into what binge drinking really means.

What is Binge Drinking

How is binge drinking set apart from…well, just drinking?

Firstly, it is a period of drinking that brings an individual’s Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) to 0.08% or above. This means that someone has had enough alcohol for it to affect their bloodstream, and soon their brain and body function.

For women, this is about 4 or more drinks and for men it is about 5 drinks during a two-hour period. This may not seem like it would be hard to keep track of, but for many it is.

The social aspect of drinking is what pushes many people to drink more than they may intend to. Drinking beers during a game or losing track of how many drinks you’ve had at the club is easy to do, and can lead to some of the harmful effect of binge drinking quickly.

Keeping track of drinks and watching out for these signs can help you to keep yourself and others safe while drinking.

Signs and Symptoms

Seeing the signs of drunkenness or alcoholism is a key step in making a change for the better. Once you can recognize what it looks like when someone has had too many, you can help them – or yourself – to stay safe.

Look out for these signs to tell if someone is drunk:

• Lack of coordination
• Vision problems
• Seeming tired or drowsy
• Loss of balance
• Confusion
• Loss of consciousness or throwing up

Similarly, addiction can also have signs that point to an escalating problem. These might look like:

• Being unable to set a limit on drinks
• Inability to fulfill professional or social obligations due to drinking
• Distancing themselves from loved ones
• Hiding alcohol or drinking in secret
• Needing more alcohol than usual to feel buzzed, developing a tolerance

Watching out for these signs might be the difference between life or death. Make sure you are aware of how much you and those you are with are drinking and, keep an eye out for these signs to take action if it is needed.

Health Consequences

There are many long-term health consequences that arise when someone is stuck in alcoholism. When you read these health risks, you might even consider taking a break from alcohol after all. Some of these include:

• Heart disease
• Risk of stroke
• Weakened immune system
• Brain damage or long-term memory lapses
• Risk of certain types of cancer

Not only do these health consequences sound scary, but they can also affect those around you. Alcoholic parents can pass their alcohol use patterns down to their children, who are more susceptible to addiction later in life.

When it comes to health consequences, the alcoholic individual is not the only one who has to deal with it. Loved ones are often involved in medical costs, taking care of the individual later on, or tension due to addiction.

Seeking Treatment

If you feel like you might be struggling with binge drinking, there are alcoholism treatment options available for you.

It can be scary to think of the costs of rehab, but your insurance may be able to help you cover some of the costs. Searching online for “Aetna alcohol rehab centers”, or whatever insurance you use, can help you find what you need.

There is no shame in seeking treatment for an addiction. Often it can feel impossible to escape substance abuse on your own, so seeking help might be the best option for recovery.

Seeing the signs is the first thing you can do to help someone who is binge drinking. Whether it is yourself or someone else, keep these things in mind to stay safe and responsible while drinking.