How long can an alcoholic expect to live?

Answer 1

An alcoholic will often die younger than they would if they were not using alcohol. There are two sides to this: physiological and psychological. The destructive effect that alcohol has on the human body when used to excess may shorten expected lifespan. This list is long, from brain damage to liver failure.

The psychological side is the likelihood that goofy behavior caused by the use of alcohol may kill them. The list here is endless. Driving while drunk, getting in violent confrontations, taking idiotic risks, using power tools while blitzed. One way or another, the odds are good that this person will die much earlier than if they were not drinking.

Another

There is no simple answer to this question. Long term use of alcohol and/or marijuana will almost certainly decrease your life expectancy compared to someone who uses neither or uses them considerably less. Your personal and family medical history, other medications and drugs you might be taking, and a number of other factors contribute to your life expectancy along with alcohol and marijuana use.

Compared to many illegal drugs marijuana is relatively safe, however it is not good for your lungs and may have some long term effects on memory, concentration and other mental/neurologic functions. Long term use may also interfere with mood, sleep and food intake.

Alcohol on the other hand is extremely toxic. Consumed in moderate amounts --usually 1 drink a day for women and 2 for men is the recommended maximum, based on relative body weight versus dosage -- alcohol is safely and easily metabolized. Long term overuse causes liver and possibly brain damage. Alcohol may suppress the anti-diuretic hormone (ADH), which tells your kidneys to hold on to more water when the blood becomes too saline, or salty. When ADH is suppressed, you will continue to urinate well past the point your body would normally conserve fluid, which is why alcohol consumption causes dehydration. Excess fluid loss means you also loose electrolytes like potassium, sodium, chloride, magnesium and calcium and water soluble vitamins like ascorbic acid (vitamin C) and the B vitamins, which include folate, niacin and thiamin. Chronic, excessive alcohol use leads to long term deficiencies in these nutrients. Vomiting caused by excessive alcohol consumption will also cause you to lose elctrolytes and vitamins.

Acute alcohol toxicity can result in seizures, severe vomiting and death. Sudden alcohol withdrawal in an addict can also result in seizures. If you fear that you or someone you know consumes too much alcohol you should see a health care professional. A diet rich in vitamins and minerals, or a supplement, is highly recommended.

Statistical :Aetna Casuality, an insurance company for whom such statistics are critical, states that chronic Alcoholism reduces general life expectancy by 15 years. This number seems unrealistic, and Life Expenctancy Calculators (I tried a few) seem to reduce my own life expectancy by 2 to 7 years if I change the number from zero drinking to 3-5 drinks, 3 or more times a weeks. There was no setting for "intoxicated all the time".

The Center for Disease Control (CDC), in a confusing and oddly constructed article, states that the average Alcohol Attributable Death (ADD) results in 30 years of life lost. These years, however, do not necessarily apply to just one person, as AAD's like car accidents may take more than one life at a time, and the decedents may not even drink at all.

Also, the age, physical condition and family history of the subject all factor in.

Maybe a couple of 40 to 50 age lifespan of an alcoholic drinker. Or maybe much more earlier than on their age but it will be bases of how long that they been addicted to alcohol. If they been started at their very young age. For sure they will get easily end their lives at the age of 40 or 50.