Success Stories

More Success Stories

How Does Alcoholism Affect Your Body?

Alcoholism is a destructive and very often deadly addiction. The persistent and lasting effects of abusing alcohol may diminish with time and abstinence, but will never fully disappear.

At The Canyon, alcohol rehabilitation is one of our primary concerns. Dedicated to the alcoholic whose alcohol abuse is compounded by mental and emotional problems, our staff is professionally trained to help anyone who suffers from addiction and a co-occurring disorder. From assistance with an alcohol intervention to help with relapse prevention, The Canyon provides the tools that you or your loved one will need to maintain abstinence when they return home.

The Stages of Alcoholism

The early or adaptive stage of alcoholism is often easily hidden as the only outward sign is an increased tolerance to alcohol with few, if any side effects. An alcoholic in their early stages of addiction may appear similar to non-alcoholics who happen to be heavy drinkers.

The middle stage is marked with an individual's need to drink in order to combat the ill-effects of being without alcohol. This physical dependence coupled with intensified cravings and loss of self-control eventually leads to blackouts, or memory loss.

The late or deteriorative stage of alcoholism is virtually unmistakable: almost constant drinking, confusion, malnutrition, respiratory infections, even poverty are hallmarks of this addiction. The alcoholic is by this time almost always delusional, irrational, and in complete denial of the problem.

Physical Effects on the Body Caused by Alcoholism

If you continue to drink, your heart will suffer from irregular heartbeats and high blood pressure, which increase the chances for a heart attack or stroke. Your liver will become inflamed and very painful; fluid buildup causes swelling (edema); cirrhosis, hemorrhage, cancer, and eventual liver failure will lead to death. The Brain experiences hallucinations, impaired senses and motor skills, dementia, psychosis, even mood and personality changes. The tonsils, salivary glands, thyroid, and lymph nodes (collectively called glands) all become swollen and inflamed in an attempt to filter out additional toxins from the body.

How Alcohol Affects Men and Women Differently

Women process alcohol through their bodies differently from men for a variety of physiological reasons, not just because of size or weight. Dehydrogenase, an enzyme found in the liver that helps to break down alcohol, is found in smaller amounts in the female body. Additionally, premenstrual hormonal changes and medications containing estrogen (such as birth control) slow the elimination of alcohol.

How Alcoholism Affects a Fetus

Fetal Alcohol Syndrome (FAS) is a term used to describe the effects of a mother's drinking on her unborn baby. Defects such as severely low birth weight, impaired muscle development and control are immediately evident at birth. As the child grows, FAS continues to cause problems with hyperactivity, learning and attention disorders, impaired concentration, and sometimes seizures.

Drinking alcohol when pregnant is the number one cause of mental retardation. But fetal alcohol syndrome can be avoided - eliminating alcohol while pregnant and breastfeeding gives your baby the best opportunities for a healthy life.

Mitigate the Effects of Alcohol on Your Body at The Canyon

At The Canyon, alcohol rehabilitation is one of our primary concerns. Dedicated to the alcoholic whose alcohol abuse is compounded by mental and emotional problems, our staff is professionally trained to help anyone who suffers from addiction and a co-occurring disorder. From assistance with an alcohol intervention to help with relapse prevention, The Canyon provides the tools that you or your loved one will need to maintain abstinence when they return home.

The Canyon is a beautiful and relaxing place for men and women to live as they learn to make each choice a positive choice. Our staff is educated and prepared to help those with dual diagnoses to thrive without drugs and alcohol. A combination of psychological and drug addiction issues can make learning how to cope with the pressures of a job, bills, family and friends overwhelming. At The Canyon, we provide you with the structure you need and assistance as you navigate the waters of responsibility without getting in over your head.

If you think that this approach might work for you or a loved one, contact our call center today at .