Medical Complications: Common Alcohol-Related Concerns National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism NIAAA

Below are potential alcohol-related medical complications by body system. Your primary care provider will refer you to a hematologist if you have continued significant bruising larger than one centimeter with no known trauma. Bring a list of your medications and how long you’ve been taking them if you plan to see a doctor about random bruises. A bruise (also called ecchymosis) can bother us for days, either because they’re painful or we don’t know how they got there. AUD is a condition in which a person is unable to stop using alcohol despite negative consequences.

Bruise FAQs

• Even when sober, there’s an increased risk of falls and accidents.
• Severe alcoholic neuropathy may cause motor weakness due to nerve damage.
• A team of healthcare providers, which may include psychologists or addiction specialists, can help if you find it challenging to stop drinking.
• Furthermore, providing your body with essential nutrients can help to support optimal health.

In this case, you should go see your doctor to find out what’s going on. A bruise is a discolored mark on your skin that forms when blood vessels under your skin break and leak. They can be caused by several things, such as an injury, certain disorders, or certain medicines. Most bruises don’t need treatment because they heal on their own, usually within about 2 weeks. Bone bruises usually last longer (1-2 months) than soft tissue bruises, and they’re more painful, but most will heal with rest and the same home care as for other types of bruises.

Supported living

Someone who lives with an alcohol use disorder may experience lasting brain changes that make it difficult to stop drinking. If you’re aware that drinking is causing health problems, such as liver issues and bruising from alcohol, but you’re unable to stop drinking on your own, it’s time to seek treatment. Liver cirrhosis is linked to bleeding complications and can even lead to the formation of a large type of bruise called a hematoma.

Do You Bleed More When You Drink?

If you’re experiencing alcohol symptoms like easy bruising, or you simply want to break free from alcohol misuse, Confidant is here to help. We provide online medication assisted treatment for alcohol use, so you can begin your recovery from home. Finally, a person with an alcohol use disorder will likely give up other activities, because Drug rehabilitation their focus is on drinking. Severe alcoholic neuropathy may cause motor weakness due to nerve damage. Our muscles need to receive a message from nearby nerves in order to function.

Why Do I Get Random Bruises After A Night Of Drinking?

He emphasizes a holistic, patient-centered approach and stays updated on the latest in addiction research. Trent Carter, FNP-BC, CARN-AP, is a seasoned nurse practitioner with over a decade of experience in addiction medicine.

Heartburn

For example, some craft beers may have four times the amount of alcohol that’s in a regular beer. Be aware of the alcohol content of what you’re drinking and adjust how much you drink based on this knowledge. It’s not necessary to have all the above symptoms before seeking medical help. A person with alcohol poisoning who has passed out or can’t wake up could die. What you’re technically experiencing there is a drop in your blood pressure, which causes the heart to work a little harder than usual to pump blood to the rest of your organs.

Limiting Alcohol Consumption for a Better Life

Cirrhosis is further categorized as compensated and decompensated. Alcoholic hepatitis occurs when the liver becomes damaged and inflamed. Symptoms include fever, jaundice (yellowing of the skin), malnourishment, swelling, and accumulation of can alcohol cause bruising fluid around the liver. A person who is worried about the amount of alcohol they consume, or has trouble managing their alcohol intake, can contact a doctor or local support group to help with treatment.

• Anti-seizure medications are sometimes prescribed as a way to manage pain.
• Plus, you’re more susceptible to an accidental fall or bump after you’ve been drinking, anyway.
• Call your doctor if your symptoms don’t start to get better in a few days or if you have any symptoms of an infection, such as a high fever.
• If you notice early signs of alcohol-related liver disease, be sure to follow up with your doctor.
• Bone bruises usually last longer (1-2 months) than soft tissue bruises, and they’re more painful, but most will heal with rest and the same home care as for other types of bruises.
• A heavy drinking binge may even cause a life-threatening coma or death.

Elevated blood pressure places extra stress on the heart and increases the chances of heart attack, stroke and heart failure. These changes in the blood aren’t dangerous for most people, but those on anticoagulant medications (blood thinners) should limit their alcohol intake to one standard drink per day. You may get it if you hit your thumb with a hammer or stub your toe, but you may also get it from wearing tight shoes or training for a marathon. At the time of injury, your nail may feel sore or tender, but the pressure that builds up under your nail as the blood pools can cause severe pain.

Can you drink alcohol while you are on blood thinners?

Day drinking can increase the risk of other types of skin damage, such as sunburn, which can make the skin more prone to bruising. Understanding the causes of alcohol bruises allows you to make efforts to avoid or reduce their likelihood. Alcoholic neuropathy is a condition in which the nerves become damaged as a result of years of heavy alcohol consumption. Symptoms include burning pain in the body, hyperalgesia (increased sensitivity to pain), and allodynia (a condition in which normal stimulus, like a soft touch, produces pain).