Binge drinking can lead to alcohol abuse disorder and has short and long-term effects on your mind and body. What is binge drinking? We’ll answer this question below and discuss where you can seek help before alcohol consumes everything you have worked for. At Bayview Recovery in Tacoma, WA, we have an alcohol addiction rehab center where you can get your bearings as you regain sobriety. Our innovative program helps you find your way back to a life free of the devastating effects of alcohol abuse.

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What Is Binge Drinking?

You can define binge drinking by the amount of alcohol you drink in a given time frame. According to the CDC, binge drinking for men involves five or more drinks in less than two hours. For women, four or more drinks within the same time constitute binge drinking. Importantly, these guidelines don’t take into account body size and extenuating factors.

Why Is Binge Drinking Such a Problem?

Those who frequently drink more than they intended can develop a dependency on alcohol. If you typically plan on stopping at two drinks but end up having six or seven, you may have a serious issue.

What is binge drinking‘s cost on the economy? In the United States, drinking too much cost about $249 billion in 2010 — more than $2 for every drink consumed.

These losses include the following:

Lost workplace productivity
Health care expenses
Court costs and incarceration
Other related expenses

Short Term Effects of Binge Drinking

The earlier you seek help for binge drinking, the more quickly you can recover from the mental and physical toll it exacts. At Bayview Recovery, you receive individual therapy sessions as well as group therapy sessions that can give you the skills you need to abstain from alcohol abuse long after your initial recovery.

Here are some of the impacts of short-term binge drinking:

Heart: You may experience an irregular heartbeat, heart failure, or high blood pressure.
Kidneys: Alcohol causes the kidneys to make more urine. No surprise there, right? However, frequent urination causes dehydration, especially if accompanied by vomiting. In turn, the levels of potassium, sodium, and minerals in your body may become dangerously low.
Lungs: Alcohol interferes with the proper functioning of the gag reflex. Saliva, vomit, and other substances can end up in your lungs, causing infections and inflammation.
Pancreas: A single binge session can deplete low blood sugar levels, resulting in hypoglycemia.
Sexual Health: Unsafe sex that occurs due to lower inhibitions while drinking can lead to sexually transmitted diseases or unplanned pregnancy.

Long-term Effects

What is binge drinking‘s effect on your relationships and health in the long-term? As you begin to drink more frequently, you may alienate your family and those closest to you. At Bayview Recovery, we understand that a comprehensive recovery program includes a robust family therapy program. The program helps your loved ones understand your needs in recovery. It also gives you a chance to begin to repair fragile relationships.

Long-term bingeing and heavy drinking adversely impact the following systems:

Blood and Immune Systems: Bingeing can contribute to low platelets, anemia, and suppressed immunity.
Bones and Muscles: Alcohol abuse interferes with your body’s ability to absorb calcium and create new bone material.
Mental and brain health: Binge drinking increases the risk of strokes, dementia, and poor coordination. It increases the chance of co-occurring mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.
Reproduction: Alcohol abuse negatively affects sex drive and fertility and can harm unborn children.

Alcohol Treatment Program in Tacoma, WA

What is binge drinking? It’s a dangerous habit that can quickly lead to alcohol abuse. In addition to alcohol abuse, we offer programs to help with other substance abuse issues, including:

Contact Bayview Recovery at 855.478.3650 today for more information on the health impacts of binge drinking. We would love to discuss how our programs can benefit you and help you look forward to a better future.

What Is Binge Drinking?

You can define binge drinking by the amount of alcohol you drink in a given time frame. According to the CDC, binge drinking for men involves five or more drinks in less than two hours. For women, four or more drinks within the same time constitute binge drinking. Importantly, these guidelines don't take into account body size and extenuating factors.

Why Is Binge Drinking Such a Problem?

Those who frequently drink more than they intended can develop a dependency on alcohol. If you typically plan on stopping at two drinks but end up having six or seven, you may have a serious issue.

What is binge drinking's cost on the economy? In the United States, drinking too much cost about $249 billion in 2010 — more than $2 for every drink consumed.

These losses include the following:

Lost workplace productivity

Health care expenses

Court costs and incarceration

Other related expenses

Short Term Effects of Binge Drinking

Here are some of the impacts of short-term binge drinking:

Heart: You may experience an irregular heartbeat, heart failure, or high blood pressure.

Kidneys: Alcohol causes the kidneys to make more urine. No surprise there, right? However, frequent urination causes dehydration, especially if accompanied by vomiting. In turn, the levels of potassium, sodium, and minerals in your body may become dangerously low.

Lungs: Alcohol interferes with the proper functioning of the gag reflex. Saliva, vomit, and other substances can end up in your lungs, causing infections and inflammation.

Pancreas: A single binge session can deplete low blood sugar levels, resulting in hypoglycemia.

Sexual Health: Unsafe sex that occurs due to lower inhibitions while drinking can lead to sexually transmitted diseases or unplanned pregnancy.

Long-term Effects

What is binge drinking's effect on your relationships and health in the long-term? As you begin to drink more frequently, you may alienate your family and those closest to you. At Bayview Recovery, we understand that a comprehensive recovery program includes a robust family therapy program. The program helps your loved ones understand your needs in recovery. It also gives you a chance to begin to repair fragile relationships.

Long-term bingeing and heavy drinking adversely impact the following systems:

Blood and Immune Systems: Bingeing can contribute to low platelets, anemia, and suppressed immunity.

Bones and Muscles: Alcohol abuse interferes with your body's ability to absorb calcium and create new bone material.

Mental and brain health: Binge drinking increases the risk of strokes, dementia, and poor coordination. It increases the chance of co-occurring mental disorders such as depression and anxiety.

Reproduction: Alcohol abuse negatively affects sex drive and fertility and can harm unborn children.

Alcohol Treatment Program in Tacoma, WA

What is binge drinking? It's a dangerous habit that can quickly lead to alcohol abuse. In addition to alcohol abuse, we offer programs to help with other substance abuse issues, including: