Alcohol abuse has been linked with a variety of physical and mental health concerns. Does this list of possible harm include severe gastrointestinal distress? In other words, can alcohol cause diarrhea?
If you or a loved one are struggling with alcohol abuse, don’t hesitate to reach out to Live Oak Wellness today.
Call us now or verify your insurance to start your journey to recovery.
Can Alcohol Cause Diarrhea?
Let’s answer this question right up front: Can alcohol cause diarrhea? Yes, it can. This phenomenon is often referred to as either alcohol-induced or alcohol-related diarrhea.
The good news is that if you restrict your alcohol intake to occasional, moderate drinking, your experience with alcohol-related diarrhea may be minimal or nonexistent.
The not-so-good news is that if you have been drinking heavily and you regularly experience intense diarrhea, that could be a sign that your body has been damaged by your alcohol use.
What’s the Link Between Alcohol and Diarrhea?
Alcohol-related diarrhea may result from several causes, including:
Excess sugar
Some types of alcohol, such as cider and certain wines, contain high levels of sugar. Excessive sugar has been linked with a variety of health problems, including hypoglycemia and kidney damage. When sugar-rich alcohol reaches your digestive system, your body will try to prevent this type of damage by triggering the release of excess water to eliminate the sugar. Diarrhea can be the result of this effort.
Bacterial imbalances
The human digestive system is home to trillions of microorganisms, including bacteria. Though we typically think of bacteria as sources of disease, many of the bacteria in your digestive system play vital roles in helping your body process food. Alcohol can offset the balance between “good” and “bad” bacteria, which in turn can cause your body to remedy this problem by emptying your stomach and intestines. This rapid emptying often triggers symptoms of diarrhea.
Intestinal damage
Alcohol is a diuretic. This means that it causes your body to eliminate water much more quickly than you would if you weren’t drinking. However, alcohol can prevent the large intestine from absorbing the water that your body needs. This unabsorbed water can contribute to diarrhea.
Liver damage
Your liver plays a vital role in removing toxins from your bloodstream. This includes breaking down alcohol so that it can be safely eliminated. Over time, exposure to high levels of alcohol can cause considerable damage to your liver, including incurable cirrhosis. Diarrhea can be a symptom of this damage.
The best ways to avoid alcohol-induced diarrhea are to limit your drinking or quit altogether. If you’re not able to take either of these steps, that could be a sign that you have developed alcohol use disorder (which is the clinical term for alcohol addiction, or alcoholism).
Untreated alcoholism can have a devastating impact on virtually every aspect of your life. Thankfully, it is a treatable condition. When you get the right type of care, you can regain control of your thoughts and behaviors and start living an alcohol-free life.
Treatment Options for Alcohol Addiction
Treatment for alcoholism can take many forms. When you seek help at a reputable alcohol rehab center, one of your first activities will be to complete a thorough evaluation. The information that’s gathered during this evaluation will guide the development of your customized treatment plan.
Topics that may be explored during your evaluation may include:
- How long you’ve been abusing alcohol
- The amount and frequency of your alcohol use
- The severity of your alcohol withdrawal symptoms
- If you have received prior treatment for alcoholism
- If you have also been abusing other addictive substances
- How you have been affected by your struggles with alcoholism
- If you have any co-occurring mental health concerns
- What you hope to accomplish in treatment
- The effectiveness of your personal support network
If you have been drinking heavily for an extended period, you may be best served by beginning your treatment experience in a detoxification, or detox program. Understanding symptoms such as alcohol shakes can help you better prepare for the withdrawal process and recognize when professional support is essential.
Going through withdrawal on your own can be both difficult and dangerous. In a detox program, you will be under the care of professionals who can keep you safe and as comfortable as possible while you are withdrawing from alcohol.
Once you’ve successfully completed detox, you can transition into a residential or outpatient treatment program. In treatment, therapy and educational sessions can help you:
- Understand the disease of addiction and the process of recovery
- Identify your triggers, which are circumstances that could push you into a relapse
- Develop strategies for either avoiding triggers or responding to them in a healthy manner, without resorting to substance abuse
- Begin to heal from any co-occurring mental health concerns
- Discover the value of sharing support with others who are working toward a similar goal
- Learn how to ask for help and advocate for your needs
- Connect with peer support groups and other community-based resources
When you’re trapped in the darkness of active addiction, it can be difficult to see the path toward a healthier future. But when you get the care you need, you can stop drinking and start building a healthier life in recovery.
Find Help for Alcohol Addiction in the Bay Area
You don’t have to wait until you’ve incurred lasting harm or “hit rock bottom” before you can benefit from treatment for alcoholism. Whether you’ve been struggling with compulsive alcohol abuse for a few months or several years, it’s never too early or too late to get help.
Live Oaks Wellness offers life-changing addiction treatment in a safe and highly supportive environment. When you choose our alcohol rehab center in Marin County, California, a team of experienced and compassionate professionals can help you take significant steps toward a brighter and more hopeful future.
To learn more about how we can help, or to schedule a free assessment, please visit our Admissions page or call us today.
