What you should know about alcohol use and your well-being
We provide confidential, non-judgmental support and treatment for alcohol-related concerns. Our team is here to help you or your loved ones.
Drinking alcohol is a common social activity for many adults. When done occasionally and in moderation, some people feel it's a harmless part of life. However, alcohol is a powerful substance that can affect your body and mind, and sometimes, drinking can lead to problems that impact your health, relationships, and happiness.
A small amount might have one effect, but too much or using it too often can cause side effects and serious harm.
It's not just about how much you drink, but how it affects your life. A problem exists when alcohol causes negative consequences.
This is drinking in a way that increases your risk of harm. It includes both binge drinking and heavy drinking patterns.
Having a lot of drinks in a short time (for example, 4+ drinks for women or 5+ drinks for men in about 2 hours).
This is a medical condition where a person can't stop or control their drinking despite negative consequences. It's not a sign of weak willpower; it's a chronic health condition that changes the brain.
Slows down communication, causing slurred speech, slow reactions, foggy memory, and poor judgment. Long-term, it can affect memory and learning.
Can raise blood pressure and lead to irregular heartbeat or weakening of the heart muscle.
Your liver processes alcohol. Too much can cause fat buildup, inflammation (hepatitis), scarring (cirrhosis), which is serious and permanent.
Causes toxic inflammation that leads to severe pain and digestion issues.
Increases the risk of several cancers, including mouth, throat, esophagus, liver, breast, and colon.
Weakens it, making you more prone to infections.
For you or someone you care about, these may indicate a problem with alcohol:
Needing to drink more to feel the same effect.
Thinking about drinking often, or spending a lot of time drinking or recovering from drinking.
Trying to cut down but not being able to.
Continuing to drink even though it's causing problems with health, family, or work.
Having withdrawal symptoms when you stop (shakiness, nausea, sweating, anxiety).
Giving up activities you used to enjoy in order to drink.
The most important step is recognizing there might be a problem. Asking for help is a sign of strength, not weakness.
Stopping suddenly can be dangerous for some people with alcohol dependence. Always seek medical advice before making major changes to your drinking habits.
Contact the Steps to Care Clinic for confidential support and guidance
Steps to Care Clinic
Ekantakuna, Lalitpur
Confidential and non-judgmental consultations available