Can You Get Internal Bleeding from Alcohol Abuse

While drinking may start out as a voluntary choice, the long-term effects of alcohol eventually take on the characteristics of a medical condition or disease. Alcohol’s ability to produce feelings of relaxation and ease camouflage the actual damage it causes in the body.

What may seem like harmless drinking can develop into alcohol abuse, which has very serious health consequences.

Unfortunately, internal bleeding from alcohol abuse has become a common occurrence with long-time drinkers developing various medical conditions as a result of heavy drinking. The potential for internal bleeding from alcohol abuse exists within various major systems throughout the body.

Once signs of internal bleeding from alcohol abuse start to develop, a person’s overall health will continue to decline in the absence of needed treatment help.

Alcohol Metabolism

Alcohol’s journey through the body’s gastrointestinal tract opens the body up for considerable damage over time. According to the National Institute of Alcohol Abuse & Alcoholism, alcohol effects interfere with how the muscles of the esophagus and stomach work. This process increases the likelihood a person will develop heartburn problems from alcohol abuse.

Over time, damage cause to the linings that cover the esophagus sets the stage for internal bleeding from alcohol abuse. Likewise, internal bleeding from alcohol abuse can develop from resulting damage to the stomach lining and muscles.

As far as the small intestines go, these same effects inhibit nutrient absorption through the walls of the small intestine, while at the same time allowing harmful toxins to pass through into the bloodstream.

Internal bleeding from alcohol abuse can cause one or more of the following conditions to develop –

Alcoholic Gastritis

Over time, alcohol abuse starts to eat away at the stomach lining. Continued drinking sets the stage for alcoholic gastritis to develop. Under these conditions, internal bleeding from alcohol abuse takes the form of blood oozing from stomach lines on an ongoing basis.

Alcoholic Ketoacidosis

According to the U. S. National Library of Medicine, alcoholic ketoacidosis results from a buildup of ketone acids in the blood. Since alcohol’s effects on the gastrointestinal tract prevent necessary nutrients from entering the bloodstream, the body starts to break down fat tissues as a source of nutrients.

The body uses ketone acids to breakdown fat tissues. High levels of ketone acids inevitably tear up the gastrointestinal tract causing internal bleeding to occur.

Cirrhosis of the Liver

By far, the most serious conditions associated with internal bleeding from alcohol abuse take place inside the liver. According to the NYU Langone Medical Center, alcohol has toxic effects on the liver that ultimately kill off liver cells in the process.

When this happens, a condition known as cirrhosis of the liver develops as fibrous scar tissue forms throughout the organ. This scar tissue causes fluid materials to build-up in the abdomen. After a while, excess fluid amounts enter the veins and cause bleeding in the esophagus.

Internal Bleeding – Signs & Effects

Signs of internal bleeding from alcohol abuse develop gradually, but can cause organ failure, shock and even death when left untreated.

Signs to watch out for include –

• Stroke-like symptoms
• Coma
• Coughing up blood
• Blood in the stools
• Ulcers