Effects of alcohol addiction can be extremely devastating. The worse part is that alcohol abuse not just affects the drinker but those around her or him as well. The effects of addiction can be both physical and psychological. Basically, alcoholism is an illness that interferes with physical or mental health and negatively impacts family or occupational responsibilities.

Physical effects of alcohol abuse can be experienced within ten minutes after drinking begins. Alcohol can affect your body in different ways which may later lead to serious and incurable health issues. The basic five immediate physical alcohol abuse effects are discussed below-

• Reduced inhibition- Within minutes after a person starts drinking changes in behavior can be noticed. Such reduced inhibitions can put a person at higher risk.

• Loss of muscle control- As the quantity of alcohol consumption increases, one can notice indistinct speeches. Impaired judgment and poor coordination are physical effects of alcoholism that often leads to accidents and falls.

• Memory loss- As the level of alcohol in blood rises, it depresses the brain's control mechanisms. Thus, an alcoholic is like to forget periods of time and certain situations and events.

• Unconsciousness- A person will hardly be able to function, at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.40, acting seriously dazed and confused.

• Blackout- When the blood alcohol level reaches 0.50 a person is at risk for coma that can be life-threatening.

Apart from these, other consequences of alcoholism include nausea, hangovers, headaches and fatigue. The chances of other effects rise if a person continues to consume alcohol for longer duration. Physical alcohol dependence is characterized by withdrawal symptoms. Moreover, malnutrition can develop from a reduced appetite and inadequate absorption of nutrients in the intestinal tract and from consuming calories in alcohol.

Other long term alcohol abuse effects include damage to the brain, high blood pressure, nerve damage, fetal alcohol syndrome, insomnia, depression, increased cancer risks and many more. The only way out is to seek for alcohol rehabilitation programs and treatment.