When Hazardous and Irresponsible Drinking Results in Serious Health Problems
For more than a few years alcoholism research has demonstrated the fact that there is strong association between alcohol dependency and serious health conditions.
As an illustration, in 2005, medical exploration and alcohol abuse and alcoholism statistics revealed that alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction cost the United States an estimated $220 billion per year. Interestingly, this considerable alcohol-related cash outlay was substantially more than the cost linked with cancer ($196 billion) or with obesity ($133 billion). While it is appropriate to highlight these facts, it is also important to highlight the fact that an interrelationship exists between all three of these health problems.
That is to say, chronic alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency are also highly associated with obesity and with cancer.
Without a doubt, substance abuse examination has demonstrated the fact that alcohol dependency can boost the risk for different forms of cancer, especially cancer of the esophagus, kidneys, throat, rectum, liver, voice box (larynx), and the colon. Excessive and recurring drinking can also lead to immune system problems and injury to the fetus during pregnancy.
Abusive and Hazardous Drinking Weakens the Person’s Organs and Systems
Furthermore, if alcoholism continues over a period of years, the individual’s body organs will likely be affected in a harmful manner. As an illustration, chronic, hazardous drinking is especially detrimental to the liver due to the fact that the liver does most of the work of processing the alcohol that has been ingested. Excessive amounts of alcohol kills liver cells and destroys the ability of liver cells to reproduce. This medical condition results in a progressive inflammatory disease of the liver that can ultimately lead to cirrhosis of the liver, an acute and potentially terminal medical problem.Heavy, long-term drinking not only can result in serious liver damage, but it can also lead to damage to the heart and to the brain. Physical damage this severe may be irreversible and may, in turn, lead to serious illness or an early death.
The Importance of Alcohol Rehabilitation
It is imperative, as a result, to know how to recognize the various alcoholism symptoms and the “alcohol signs” so that the alcohol addicted person can be given the opportunity to get the quality alcohol treatment he or she requires.
Alcoholism and Sophisticated Brain Exploration
Fortunately, scientific investigation is continuously finding new and important information. Recent alcoholism exploration supplies a good illustration. More exactly, for roughly the last ten years, complicated brain-imaging scanning instruments have verified that continuous and recurring hazardous drinking modifies the configuration of the brain to a significant extent, thusly resulting in brain disease that can last months, years, or perchance as long as the person lives.
More correctly, medical examination has demonstrated that individuals who have been drinking in a hazardous manner for a sizeable length of time increase their risk for developing long-term and severe adaptations in the brain.
This type of damage may be indirectly associated with the drinker’s poor overall health or directly related to the alcohol’s effects on the brain or to severe liver disease.
Excessive Drinking, Malnutrition, and Mental Disorders
As a final illustration of diverse medical problems that are largely related to alcohol addiction, take into account the fact that in accordance with scientific research, the hazardous and repeated abuse of alcohol can lead to erosive gastritis, a health problem that limits the absorption of vitamins, minerals, and nutrients.
This type of organ malfunctioning is linked to malnutrition and to an assortment of severe neurological and mental disorders including memory loss, sleep disturbances, and psychosis such as Wernicke’s Encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s syndrome. This latter medical problem is a lasting debilitating condition that is characterized by incessant memory and learning problems.
Summary
It is evident that continued, excessive drinking is directly or indirectly linked to numerous severe medical conditions that can and do lead to dangerous ailments and premature death. Such information needs to be stressed and presented to everyone in our society so that a massive amount of people will be able to refrain from hazardous drinking while other individuals who have a drinking problem will get the quality rehab they require.
