According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one in six adults has engaged in binge drinking. Yet even a single episode of binge drinking is dangerous and can lead to addiction. Evoke Wellness at San Marcos is dedicated to providing evidence-based approaches to treating addiction. We believe in the power of compassion and empathy in helping individuals overcome their struggles.
If you have an alcohol use disorder, the team at Evoke Wellness at San Marcos offers alcohol rehab in Texas. Please take the opportunity to achieve lasting sobriety by reaching out to us at 888.450.2285.
What Is Binge Drinking?
Binge drinking is a pattern of drinking that increases blood alcohol concentration to 0.08% or more in a short amount of time. This can mean having four or more drinks in two hours for women. For men, it can mean five or more drinks in two hours.
Not everyone who participates in binge drinking has an alcohol dependence or addiction problem, but some do. If drinking interferes with your work, home life, or relationships, this points to a concern.
Other signs that your alcohol use is problematic include:
- Drinking more often
- Drinking more than you planned
- Drinking early in the day
- Giving up activities you enjoy to drink
- Feeling defensive about your drinking
- Taking part in dangerous activities when you drink
- Being unable to slow down or stop your drinking
- Feeling withdrawal symptoms if you don’t drink
Binge drinking often results in blackouts, which can also be a serious warning that you may need help.
Risks of Binge Drinking
Binge drinking poses significant risks that can leave you with serious injuries or long-term damage.
Alcohol Poisoning
Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant. This means it slows your heart rate and breathing. When you drink too much alcohol, it can severely affect the central nervous system, potentially stopping your breathing.
Alcohol also interferes with your gag reflex, which increases the chances of choking on your vomit if you pass out. Keep in mind that blood alcohol levels can continue to rise even if you’re not conscious. Alcohol poisoning is a medical emergency.
Injuries
Binge drinking makes you much more likely to suffer injuries. If you’ve been binge drinking and get behind the wheel of a car, you have the potential to severely injure yourself and others. Fatalities can occur as well.
You may also engage in unsafe sex, putting yourself at risk of getting sexually transmitted infections. In addition, binge drinking can lower your body temperature levels significantly, putting you at risk of hypothermia if you fall unconscious outside in the winter.
Organ Damage
Binge drinking has the potential to affect your heart because it causes high blood pressure and heartbeat irregularities. It also impacts your lungs by inhibiting the gag reflex, allowing saliva and vomit to enter the lungs. This can cause your lungs to become infected or inflamed.
Your kidneys also suffer after binge drinking. Alcohol is a diuretic, leading the kidneys to produce more urine. Additional urine production combined with the vomiting that can occur after binge drinking has the potential to cause dangerously low levels of sodium, potassium, and other salts and minerals.
A single bout of binge drinking may cause severely low blood sugar levels. At the same time, you may also experience liver inflammation.
Cancer
If you engage in long-term binge drinking, you have a higher chance of developing certain cancers, including liver, mouth, voice box, rectum, and colon cancer. In women, it can also increase the risk of developing breast cancer.
Call Evoke Wellness at San Marcos to Get Help for Alcohol Dependence
Binge drinking is a very dangerous activity that can result in all manner of health issues. If you find yourself struggling to keep from drinking, turning to treatment programs can be the right choice.
At Evoke Wellness at San Marcos, we offer alcohol treatment programs that can guide you through the stages of recovery. Call us today at 888.450.2285 or contact us online to learn how to start an addiction treatment program and begin your journey to a healthier life.
