The Link Between Alcohol and Stroke

Have you ever thought about the side effects of alcohol other than liver cirrhosis and short-term effects such as drowsiness and impaired judgment? If you are a heavy drunkard, you might be at risk of other life-threatening conditions. One of the side effects of heavy alcohol consumption is the increased risk of developing a stroke.

Initially, studies showed that moderate drinking could reduce the risk of health issues such as stroke and other conditions. However, in the recent past, studies have shown that alcohol consumption increases the risk of developing a stroke.

Stroke

A stroke is a health condition that affects the brain. The health condition occurs when blood supply to the brain is interrupted or reduced, reducing oxygen and nutrients. Other than reduced blood supply, a stroke might be a result of bleeding in the brain.

If there are not enough nutrients and oxygen in the brain, the brain cells start dying in minutes gradually. Without urgent medical care, a stroke can be fatal. Therefore, you should consider visiting an emergency room near you in case of a brain attack.

Signs and Symptoms of Stroke

How a strike impacts your health depends on the affected part of the brain. Some of the common symptoms of stroke include:

• Trouble speaking or understanding what other people are saying
• Numbness on the leg, face, and arm, especially on one side of the body
• Blurred vision or problems seeing with one or both eyes
• Headaches
• Trouble walking or moving your hands

Stroke can be painless sometimes. Therefore, if your friend is experiencing the symptoms above, you can ask them to smile. If the face droops or they have trouble moving their hands and have speech difficulties, you should consider a quick response to ensure they receive emergency medical care.

Types of Stroke

There are three types of stroke. The severity of the symptoms of stroke depends on the type of stroke. Below are the types of stroke:

Ischemic Stroke

Ischemic stroke is the most common and occurs when the blood vessels become narrowed or blocked. Narrowing or blocking of the blood vessels causes reduce blood flow to the brain. Ischemia is a result of fatty deposits, blood clots, and other debris in your bloodstream.

Hemorrhagic Stroke

A hemorrhagic stroke happens when a blood vessel in the brain ruptures or leaks. When a blood vessel in your brain ruptures, it can cause many complications. The stroke can be a result of uncontrolled high blood pressure, trauma, and protein deposits in the blood vessels.

Transient Ischemic Attack

This type of stroke is not very common and has mild symptoms that are not long-lasting. However, if the attacks are not treated, you might be at risk of an ischemic or hemorrhagic stroke.

Can Alcohol Consumption Cause Stroke?

Alcohol increases the risks of stroke in the following ways:

• Alcohol increases your blood pressure, which can cause hemorrhagic stroke
• Regular consumption of alcohol can be hard to maintain a healthy weight, which is one of the risk factors for stroke
• Increases the risk of diabetes
• Damages the liver, reducing the production of blood clotting factors
• Increases risk pf atrial fibrillation causing irregular heartbeats

Drinking Alcohol After Stroke

Drinking alcohol after a stroke is not recommendable since it can cause a subsequent stroke. If you drink alcohol after a stroke, it has the following effects:

• May trigger medications to cause side effects
• Increases your vulnerability to the adverse effects of alcohol abuse
• Can contribute towards weight gain, which is a stroke risk factor
• Worsens depression and other mental health conditions that arise after a stroke

Some people abuse alcohol to the point they become dependent on it. Preventing stroke and alcohol withdrawal effects can be hard to balance. Therefore, you can consider asking your doctor first before going back to drinking alcohol.

Fighting an Alcohol Addiction

If alcohol has enslaved you, you still have hope to get out and prevent health conditions that can be fatal. To get treatments for alcohol addiction, you can walk into an in-patient or residential treatment facility for treatments. Alternatively, you can ask your doctor for referrals.

ER Near Me

If you need an emergency room near you for stroke treatments, you can consider Ascent ER in Houston, TX. We are available 24 hours a day to provide you with emergency care.