The Sobering Truth: The Link Between Drinking and Life Expectancy

As with any health-related decision, seeking professional advice is recommended to make informed choices regarding alcohol consumption and its impact on overall well-being. An analysis by the Centers alcoholism for Disease Control and Prevention looked at the deaths and potential life years lost due to heavy drinking from 2011 to 2015. During that time, excessive drinking caused an average of 261 deaths per day, and the life expectancy of people who drank excessively was estimated to have been cut short by 29 years on average. The impact of alcoholism and life expectancy is thoroughly documented, and the answers are shocking. A 2014 analysis published in the Acta Psychiatrica Scandinavica journal looked at the results of all patients who were admitted to a hospital in Denmark, Finland, and Sweden from 1987 to 2006 and were diagnosed with alcohol use disorder.

Support Systems and Resources

Laura Morris is an experienced clinical practitioner and CQC Registered Manager with over twenty years experience, over ten of which have been as an Independent Nurse Prescriber. She has held a number of senior leadership roles in the substance use and mental health sector in the NHS, the prison service and in leading social enterprises in the field. With 27% of people experiencing homelessness stating that drugs or alcohol was a contributing factor – it is clear how this impacts overall life expectancy 29. Research suggests that there is a positive correlation between alcohol use disorder and cardiac disease, accounting for over 30% of deaths 17. The average lifespan in the UK is 81 years old, whereas the overall average lifespan of an alcoholic is 52 years old 2 3.

How does alcohol affect different age groups?

• In Sweden, the number of men with AUD decreased and the number of women with AUD increased from 1987 to 2006 (Table 1).
• While alcohol-induced liver disease is common, you can prevent it by significantly reducing alcohol intake or stopping it altogether.
• When the immune system becomes damaged by heavy drinking, it can weaken functions like the lung immune response, increasing the risk of respiratory diseases like pneumonia.
• This can also lead to anemia when your red blood cell (RBC) count is lower than normal or there’s a problem with the hemoglobin protein inside those cells.
• At Greater Boston Addiction Centers, we specialize in comprehensive care, offering programs like Alcohol Addiction Programs, CBT Therapy, and DBT Therapy to help individuals regain control of their lives and health.

You could also consider how long do alcoholics live trying alcohol-free alternatives, like non-alcoholic beers or mocktails, as a way of reducing psychological cravings. This translates to roughly 12 oz of regular beer, 5 oz of wine, or 1.5 oz of distilled spirits (2). There’s a link between alcohol misuse and the risk of suicidal thoughts, attempts and death by suicide.

• Those types of studies, in more controlled environments and with far fewer variables, are much easier to get right than massive human population studies with tons of possible confounding factors.
• Even if your loved one seeks help, you may still need help and support to overcome the effects.
• When an individual reaches this stage, drinking has taken over their lives and has impacted their daily functioning, including work, finances, and relationships.
• Medication-assisted treatment involves the use of medications to help manage cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
• At New Breath Recovery, we offer personalized drug and alcohol addiction treatment options tailored to each patient’s unique condition and needs.

Symptoms of the End Stages of Alcoholism

Tests for trends were assessed using Wald tests, by fitting median values of intake per intake category as continuous terms. Restricted cubic spline regression analyses using four knots (at the midpoints of the categories used in categorical analyses) and Wald test were performed to test for non-linearity. We conducted sensitivity analyses, https://ecosoberhouse.com/ by restricting analyses to participants who reported to have had the same alcohol intake 5 years before baseline, including abstainers on both occasions (i.e. the stable subgroup).

Medical Disclaimer

• Moderation is key, and it is important to be mindful of one’s alcohol consumption to ensure a healthy and balanced lifestyle.
• The magnitude of this decrease depends on various factors such as the severity and duration of alcohol abuse, co-occurring medical conditions, and lifestyle factors.
• Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a serious condition that can have devastating effects on a person’s life, relationships, and health.

One 2022 study found a 43% increased overall mortality risk for participants who drank beyond modest amounts, which shortened their lives by 6.9 years on average. This reduction is further increased to 10.25 years in the case of drinkers who also smoke (8). In recent decades, per capita alcohol consumption in the United States has been steadily increasing. As alcohol use rises, understanding its effects on our mental and physical well-being—particularly on longevity and life expectancy—becomes increasingly important (1). Many people use alcohol to self-medicate mental health issues like anxiety and depression. They may struggle with a mood or personality disorder or even attempt to cope with trauma by turning to alcohol.