Alcohol abuse affects many parts of the body, and the pursuit of recovery can vary in length for each. How long to reverse effects of alcohol abuse in the body depends on the severity of abuse and for how many years the alcoholic was drinking.
Problems associated with alcohol abuse range from physical, emotional, social and psychological issues. While some of these bodily systems can be permanently impaired, others can regenerate and recover once the individual ceases drinking.
How long to recover from alcohol damage in different parts of the body?
As previously mentioned, the rate and possibility of recovery vary from person to person. Let’s take a look at the organs and systems impacted, and how recovery might be possible.
The brain
The brain is composed of a complex network of billions of neurons to optimize the body’s function and capacity.
Chronic use and abuse of alcohol kill and damages these neurons in all parts of the brain, inhibiting the necessary functions and the incredible capabilities of the body’s most complex organ.
As the brain’s neural pathways and neural activity are hindered, there is an increased risk of neurological disorders and diseases, including dementia, stroke, brain cancer, and seizures.
Most of the damage done to the brain cannot be repaired completely. However, abstaining from alcohol for a few months to a year is shown to help some areas regain partial correction. Additionally, the sooner an alcohol abuser abstains from drinking, the more damage to their brain they avoid.
The liver
The liver excretes toxins from the body, so the liver works overtime when excess alcohol is consumed. Over time, an overworked liver becomes scarred, fatty, and non-effective.
The time it takes for the liver to recover from alcohol-related damage varies depending on the severity of the damage and individual factors like overall health and lifestyle changes. In mild cases, where there’s minimal scarring (fibrosis) or inflammation (hepatitis), the liver can regenerate within weeks to months if alcohol consumption is stopped. However, if the damage is severe, such as cirrhosis, the liver’s ability to regenerate may be limited, and recovery could take much longer or may not be possible. It’s essential to seek medical advice for proper evaluation and guidance on recovery. Making lifestyle changes like abstaining from alcohol, eating a healthy diet, and exercising can also support liver health and recovery.
The heart
The cardiovascular issues associated with drinking are many, including hypertension, a weakened heart and difficult pumping blood, high cholesterol, irregular heartbeats, and heart attacks. Some damage to the heart can be reversed within a few months of quitting alcohol, but the longer an alcoholic abuses the substance, the more serious and irreversible the damage becomes.
Alcohol abuse wreaks havoc on more than a drinker’s social and work life. It severely impedes their physical, mental, emotional, and psychological health. If you or a loved one has a problem abusing alcohol, getting treatment as soon as possible is the only way to a healthy living and to the chance of recovering damage done to the body during years of abuse.
Reach out to our professionally trained staff and counselors at United Recovery Project to learn more about addressing alcohol abuse and the services we offer to recovering alcoholics. If you or a cherished one are enduring the effects of drug addiction, help is accessible. Call United Recovery Project, a full-service inpatient drug treatment center in South Florida, to converse to one of our caring representatives today at 888-960-5121. We recognize your distress and want to support you.
