Alcoholism is a chronic disease characterized by uncontrolled drinking and preoccupation with alcohol. Alcoholics often suffer from physical and mental health issues related to their drinking, which can significantly impact their life expectancy. Understanding how alcoholism affects life span can help highlight the dangers of excessive alcohol consumption.
What is the life expectancy of alcoholics?
Multiple factors influence the life expectancy of alcoholics, making it difficult to pinpoint an exact number. However, research shows alcoholics tend to live 12-24 years less than the general population. For example, while the average life expectancy in the U.S. is around 79 years, the life expectancy of alcoholics ranges from 55-67 years.
The more severe the alcoholism, the greater the reduction in life span. Late-stage alcoholics who drinkdaily and engage in binge drinking face the highest risk of early death. Studies show that individuals with alcohol use disorder (AUD) who are treated can gain back some of those lost years.
Why do alcoholics tend to have shorter lifespans?
There are several reasons why alcoholics tend to live fewer years:
Liver disease
The liver metabolizes alcohol, but chronic heavy drinking can lead to liver damage and disease. Alcoholic liver disease is one of the top causes of mortality in alcoholics. Conditions like fibrosis, alcoholic hepatitis, and cirrhosis can develop. Liver damage also increases the risk of liver cancer.
Heart disease
Long-term alcohol abuse weakens the heart muscle, leading to problems like cardiomyopathy, irregular heartbeat, high blood pressure, and stroke. Heavy drinking can also contribute to high triglycerides and other blood lipid abnormalities.
Increased cancer risk
Chronic alcohol consumption has been linked to higher rates of cancer, including mouth, esophagus, throat, liver, and breast cancer. Alcohol acts as a carcinogen and also negatively interacts with smoke carcinogens.
Weakened immune system
Drinking heavily suppresses the immune system, making alcoholics more prone to pneumonia, tuberculosis, and other infections. Alcoholics are also at increased risk of HIV transmission.
Mental health disorders
Alcohol is a nervous system depressant that is associated with mental health issues like depression, anxiety, and suicide. Heavy drinkers have higher rates of cognitive decline and dementia.
Accidents and injuries
Because alcohol impairs motor skills and judgment, alcoholics are more likely to suffer falls, burns, drowning, vehicular accidents, and other unintentional injuries while intoxicated. These accidents can result in disability or death.
Malnutrition
Heavy drinking often replaces healthy eating. Alcohol has no nutritional value and alcoholics frequently suffer from deficiencies of vitamins, minerals, and proteins. Malnutrition can compound other alcohol-related health problems.
Alcohol withdrawal
When alcoholics suddenly stop drinking, they may experience withdrawal symptoms ranging from anxiety and shaking to seizures, hallucinations, and delirium tremens. Severe alcohol withdrawal can be fatal if not managed properly.
Alcohol poisoning
Consuming excessive amounts of alcohol in a short time can shut down critical body functions like breathing, heart rate, and temperature control. Alcohol poisoning leads to coma and death in severe cases. Binge drinking is linked to an increased risk of mortality.
Smoking-related illnesses
Alcoholics have high rates of tobacco smoking, which further damages health. Diseases related to smoking, such as lung cancer, COPD, and heart disease, negatively impact life expectancy.
Effects of homelessness and incarceration
Some alcoholics become homeless or spend time in prison due to their drinking. Homelessness and incarceration are associated with higher risks of communicable diseases, violence, stress, and inadequate healthcare.
How does the life expectancy of treated alcoholics compare?
The outlook improves significantly for alcoholics who get treatment and achieve long-term sobriety. Studies show:
– Alcoholics who give up drinking by age 30 can increase life expectancy by up to 10 years.
– Alcoholics who quit drinking by age 50 can gain back 6-7 years of life.
– Treated alcoholics can add 5 years or more to life expectancy compared to untreated alcoholics.
With comprehensive treatment and lifestyle changes, some alcoholics can get their lifespan close to that of the general public. However, the more advanced the AUD, the lower the life expectancy even with sobriety.
Risk of relapse
Alcoholism has a high rate of relapse, which remains a threat to longevity. Continued participation in support groups and follow-up care helps sustain recovery and reduce mortality risk.
Lasting effects
The chronic effects of long-term alcohol abuse still impact health and longevity. For example, lasting liver damage can remain an issue. Ongoing medical care helps manage lingering alcohol-related damage.
| Age of sobriety | Life expectancy gain |
|---|---|
| 30 years old | Up to 10 years |
| 50 years old | 6-7 years |
| Treated vs. untreated | 5+ years |
How does alcoholism affect life expectancy by gender?
Research indicates that alcoholism may impact life span differently in males versus females:
– Male alcoholics tend to die earlier than female alcoholics.
– One study found alcoholic men died approximately 22 years earlier than non-alcoholic men. Alcoholic women died about 15 years prematurely compared to non-alcoholic women.
– The gender mortality gap closes in old age. After age 70, male and female alcoholics have similar life expectancy.
– Factors like hormonal differences, varying alcohol metabolism rates, and women developing AUD later may influence gender effects.
However, alcoholism remains highly dangerous for women as well as men. Binge drinking is especially concerning for females due to increased heart disease and breast cancer risk.
Life expectancy in alcoholic males
– Develop AUD earlier in life, on average
– Die up to 22 years prematurely
– At higher risk of liver disease than females
– Greater tendency toward risky behaviors while intoxicated
Life expectancy in alcoholic females
– Tend to develop AUD later than males
– Die approximately 15 years prematurely
– At higher risk of heart disease than males
– Experience alcohol-related brain damage sooner
Does the type of alcohol impact longevity?
The type of alcoholic beverage itself does not appear to directly affect life expectancy. However, research indicates:
– Beer and spirits tend to be consumed in riskier drinking patterns compared to wine.
– Binge and heavy drinking have the strongest correlation with early mortality.
– Wine drinkers appear to have better overall lifestyle factors like diet and exercise.
– Beer drinking shows a strong link to abdominal obesity, which boosts health risks.
In general, liquor consumed straight and in shots or cocktails represents the highest risk drinking behavior. But any type of alcohol can be detrimental in excess. Avoiding binge drinking and limiting intake is key for longevity regardless of alcohol type.
| Alcohol type | Associated mortality risks |
|---|---|
| Beer | Binge drinking, abdominal obesity |
| Wine | Lower due to better lifestyle factors |
| Spirits | Binge and heavy drinking |
What is the life expectancy for different types of alcoholics?
Not all alcoholics fit the severe stereotype. The type of drinking pattern influences longevity:
Functional alcoholics
– Maintain jobs, relationships, health
– Typically drink daily but not round the clock
– May engage in periodic binge drinking
– Die about 12 years earlier than average
Young adult binge drinkers
– Periodically drink to excess on weekends or parties
– Rarely drink daily or alone
– Risk accidents, alcohol poisoning while binging
– Can lose up to 20 years if drinking persists
Chronic severe alcoholics
– Drink throughout the day over many years
– Suffer physical dependence and organ damage
– Face homelessness, incarceration, isolation
– May die 24+ years prematurely
The occasional drinker has little lifespan reduction. Early intervention improves prognosis even for severe alcoholism.
What health conditions are caused by long-term alcoholism?
Chronic excessive alcohol use contributes to the development of numerous adverse health effects that can shorten life, including:
– Liver disease – alcoholic hepatitis, fibrosis, cirrhosis, liver cancer
– Heart disease – cardiomyopathy, arrhythmias, stroke
– Cancer – mouth, throat, liver, breast
– Pancreatitis
– High blood pressure
– Mental illnesses – depression, anxiety, dementia
– Cognitive deficits
– Peripheral neuropathy
– Sleep disorders
– Seizures
– Liver infection
– Ulcers
– Osteoporosis
– Fertility issues
– Weakened immune system
The toxic effects of alcohol and its metabolites damage tissues and organs throughout the body. Even small amounts of daily drinking add up over many years.
What criteria determine alcoholism?
Medical providers diagnose alcohol use disorder (AUD) when someone meets criteria outlined in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM), including:
– Drinking more or longer than intended
– Persistent desire/unsuccessful efforts to cut down
– Great deal of time spent obtaining alcohol or recovering
– Cravings
– Failure to fulfill major role obligations due to repeated intoxication
– Continued drinking despite social or interpersonal problems caused or worsened by alcohol
– Important activities given up or reduced due to alcohol
– Recurrent alcohol use in hazardous situations
– Alcohol tolerance changes
– Withdrawal symptoms when stopping alcohol
The severity of AUD ranges from mild to severe depending on the number of criteria met. Severe AUD has the highest risk of mortality.
Genetic risk factors
Genetics account for 50-60% of AUD risk. Children of alcoholics are 2-9 times more likely to develop alcoholism. Specific genetic variants affect alcohol metabolism and influence reward pathways in the brain.
Underlying mental health disorders
AUD commonly co-occurs with mental illnesses like depression, anxiety, PTSD, and personality disorders. These underlying issues make problematic drinking more likely.
Conclusion
Alcoholism significantly reduces life expectancy across gender and age groups. The heavy impact on longevity highlights the importance of prevention efforts and early intervention. Alcohol abusers who are able to achieve sobriety can regain some lost years and improve their prognosis. Ongoing support, lifestyle changes, and managing lasting alcohol effects are key to optimizing life span. However, chronic severe alcoholism continues to claim lives prematurely despite treatment advances.