End-Stage Alcoholism: Signs, Symptoms, and Treatment

End-stage alcoholism can cause a variety of physical and mental health conditions, including:[3]

• Itchy skin
• Jaundice
• Fatigue
• Fluid retention
• Cirrhosis
• Malnutrition
• Heart failure
• Chronic pancreatitis
• Anemia
• Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome (alcohol dementia)

Alcoholic Cirrhosis

Chronic alcohol exposure negatively affects the liver. Over time, there’s a progression from hepatitis, or liver inflammation, to fibrosis, or hardening. Eventually, the liver tissue scars, which is known as cirrhosis. This is the final stage of alcohol-related liver disease.

Cirrhosis can have serious complications that can be fatal, including increased pressure in the liver veins that can cause ascites, fluid collection in the abdomen, and varices or bleeds from the veins lining the esophagus.[4]

In the early stages of cirrhosis, you may not notice any symptoms. However, after years of chronic alcohol use, you may experience:[5]

• Abdominal swelling
• Bleeding from esophageal varices
• Jaundice
• Spider-like veins
• Redness in the feet
• Memory problems
• Fainting
• Malnutrition

Chronic alcohol use can contribute to malnutrition in several ways. Alcohol may replace food, leading to nutritional deficiencies and interfering with the absorption and metabolism of essential nutrients. Eventually, poor nutrition causes anemia or a low red blood cell count.

Chronic Pancreatitis

Alcohol damages the pancreas over time, but there are often no or minimal symptoms. Eventually, the damage accumulates and causes a sudden attack of pancreatitis. Roughly 70% of chronic pancreatitis cases are due to chronic alcohol use.[6] Chronic pancreatitis tends to include additional problems like pain, diabetes, or malabsorption of food that exacerbates nutritional deficiencies.

Cardiovascular Problems

Chronic alcohol use can cause numerous heart problems, including damage to the heart muscle (alcoholic cardiomyopathy) and an increased risk of heart failure and stroke.[7] High blood pressure and high blood triglycerides are also common, leading to heart disease.[8] Alcohol abuse can cause angina as well, due to a blockage in a coronary artery.[9]

Brain Problems

Long-term alcohol abuse can cause lasting damage to the brain, though some may be reversible with early treatment. Wernicke-Korsakoff’s syndrome, which affects your ability to remember recent events or process new information, is the most devastating.[10]

Eye Problems

End-stage alcoholism can come with problems with involuntary rapid eye movement (nystagmus) or weakness of the eye muscles because of vitamin B1 (thiamine) deficiency.[11] Thiamine deficiency can also lead to alcohol-related dementia.

Cancers

Heavy alcohol use can cause several types of cancer, including cancer of the esophagus, colon, breast, throat, liver, or mouth.