Our bodies don’t process alcohol in the same way that they process food, and that can lead to serious problems. At Safe Harbor Recovery Center, in Portsmouth, Virginia, our clients with alcohol use disorder often experience digestive issues as a result of their alcohol consumption.
Breaking Down the Alcohol
When our bodies break down alcohol, one of the byproducts that is created is acetaldehyde. This is a toxic substance that can cause damage to cells and tissues in the brain, pancreas, and liver, among other organs. It is known to cause cancer. When a person drinks in moderation, this byproduct doesn’t stay in the body for very long, so it does not tend to result in significant damage. When a person consumes a lot of alcohol or consumes it frequently, acetaldehyde may stay in the body longer and cause more issues.
Digestive Symptoms Caused by Alcohol
Alcohol impacts several different organs that are involved in the digestive process, which can lead to:
- Abdominal pain
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Bloody stools
- Frequent heartburn after drinking
- Unexplained weight loss
All of these require immediate medical attention, as they could be a sign of a serious medical issue.
Digestive Issues Resulting from Alcohol Misuse
Due to the numerous organs that can be adversely affected by alcohol, there are a lot of medical issues that can result, such as:
- Inflammation of the stomach lining and pancreas
- Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD), a severe form of acid reflux that can lead to heartburn and damage to the lining of the esophagus
- Liver diseases such as alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis, or liver cancer
- Increased symptoms for people who already have Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) or Crohn’s disease
- Cancer in the esophagus or stomach
Nutritional Deficiencies Caused by Alcohol
A person who has a long-term pattern of heavy or binge drinking is likely to have certain nutritional deficiencies as a result of:
- Not eating a healthy, diverse diet
- Not absorbing vitamins and nutrients due to vomiting and diarrhea
- The body using up stores of vitamins and nutrients to process alcohol
- The body being unable to process specific vitamins and nutrients due to organ damage
- A buildup of enzymes in the pancreas due to an inability to flush unused and unneeded substances
The most common nutritional deficiencies that result are:
- Folate: Making it difficult for the body to manufacture or repair DNA and red blood cells
- B Vitamins: Impairing wound healing and cell maintenance, interfering with appetite, or causing fatigue, sleep issues, weakness, irritability, and depressed mood
- Thiamine: Leading to memory loss and impaired movement
- Vitamin A: Resulting in night blindness, poor wound healing, and cell maintenance issues
- Vitamin C: Causing poor wound healing and cell maintenance, as well as scurvy
- Vitamin D: Resulting in musculoskeletal pain, mood disorders, bone density loss, or poor immune system function
- Vitamin E: Leading to poor wound healing and cell maintenance
- Vitamin K: Can cause bleeding issues due to poor clotting
- Calcium: Resulting in bone disease
- Magnesium: Causing fatigue, muscle cramps, irregular heartbeat, and osteoporosis
- Iron: Leading to anemia and iron toxicity
- Zinc: Causing night blindness, skin lesions, reduced appetite, or depression
- Omega-3 fatty acids: Leading to anxiety, suicidality, fatty liver disease, and a heightened risk of relapse
Preventative Measures
You can reduce your risk of developing health issues related to alcohol consumption by:
- Limiting your alcohol intake
- Never drinking on an empty stomach
- Eating a healthy, well-balanced diet with plenty of dark green leafy vegetables, nuts, enriched grains, fruits and fruit juices – especially citrus, eggs, dairy, red and white meats and shellfish, sweet peppers, and tomatoes
- Talking to your doctor about your substance use and recommended dietary supplements
- Avoiding binge drinking
- Having alcohol-free days between days when alcohol is consumed
- Seek professional support if you aren’t able to do these things, as it could be a sign that you are developing an alcohol use disorder
At Safe Harbor Recovery Center, we recognize that recovery is far more than getting sober. This is why we encourage our clients to address their mental health, nutrition, sleep habits, spirituality, social networks, and other aspects of their life that can impact their long-term ability to fully recover from addiction.