Alcohol Damage?

Question:

I have read that early use of alcohol will damage the liver and the brain. When I was 17, I started to drink. But then kind of became dependent having about a drink of whiskey (it was about 4-5 shots a night) before bed to ease my mind and help me sleep (Junior year and college pressure). I did this for about 2 months. I've always had a mature body and a high tolerance for alcohol so I thought I was going to be invisible (teenager). All through out high school there was at least two parties a month where I had probably 5 beers each time. Up to college, now, I have had an average of 2 glasses of wine per week with dinner (100% Italian and my mother has a glass every night.)

Now I'm looking back and can't help but worry if I have done damage, which I probably have, that will later haunt me. If I have done real damage, I haven't been to the doctors to be x-ray'd or anything like that and really don't wish to, what can I do to maybe reverse some damage, if that's even possible.

Thanks

Answers:
I agree with JF. keep in mind that drinking at a young age increases your chances of alcoholism. Sounds like you are on the right path tho!!

the liver regenerates itself if you take care of it.

assuming no other underlying disease that amount of alcohol most likley didn't do amy lasting damage. The 2 glasses of wine a week will certainly not do any damage. you need to drink alot more than you did"...Most people who drink large amounts of alcohol harm their livers in some way, but not all of these people get cirrhosis. In general, about 30% of the people who drink 8 to 16 ounces of hard liquor (or the equivalent in other alcoholic beverages) each day for 15 years or more will get cirrhosis.."

To do irreversible brain damage you would have to drink a lot more than you did.

Drinking in moderation is OK but too much alcohol speeds up the ageing process and can ruin your liver, pancreas and cause a lot of other problems.

It is unlikely that you have done any real damage so perhaps you should just forget about the doctor and X-rays. A doctor won't find anything when there is nothing to find.

Alcohol Damage?

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