ALCOHOLISM

Is alcoholism a disease?

 

Yes, alcoholism is a progressive, chronic, degenerative disease, with symptoms that include a strong need to take despite negative consequences.

 

The disease is characterized by physical damage to all body systems, the most complicated those related to the cardiovascular system, nervous system and liver.

 

When drinking is exaggerated or recurrent tolerance occurs. That is, the body requires a higher dose of alcohol to get the same feelings. This facilitates the addiction, which is accompanied by great difficulties to stop consumption when you start drinking. By suspending the use of alcohol, you develop symptoms such as nausea, tremors and anxiety.

 

Moreover, the alcoholic loses interest in his surroundings, which can lead to loss of their jobs and their families.

 

What are the immediate effects of the consumption of alcoholic beverages?

 

The effects are shown in a sequence of steps provided that the individual is still drinking and according to the amount and type of beverage ingested. It also influences the volume of food found in the stomach, the body weight of the person and the circumstances in which you drink:

 

First: The subject is relaxed, it becomes communicative, sociable and uninhibited, because the alcohol first depresses the nerve centers that control the inhibition of impulses, so that the behavior is released, the individual seems excited.

 

Second: The behavior is essentially emotional, erratic, problems of judgment and there is difficulty in muscular coordination, and impaired vision and balance.

 

Third: The individual has mental confusion, staggers when walking, have double vision, reactions and behavior variables: panic, aggression and crying. Moreover it has serious difficulties to properly pronounce words and to understand what is said.

 

Fourth: Inability to stand, vomiting, incontinence of urine, stupor, unconsciousness approach.

 

Fifth: unconsciousness, absent reflexes. Coma that can lead to death by respiratory paralysis.

 

What happens is that when a person ingests a drink, 20% of alcohol in the beverage is immediately absorbed through the stomach wall and into the blood.

 

The other 80% is processed a little more slowly and is also absorbed from the small intestine, to circulate in the blood. If alcohol intake is stopped or continued in moderation, alcohol levels in the blood is kept low, because a healthy liver can metabolize, with the help of the elimination of alcohol in the urine and breath. However, when the speed of ingestion and the amount taken beyond the possibility of deleting it difficult muscle coordination and balance, are impeding the memory and judgment, plus you can reach states of intoxication that threaten life.

 

What are the consequences of excessive consumption?

 

Ø After a while of abusing alcohol, there is an impairment in various organs including the stomach, liver, kidneys and heart and nervous system.

Ø A number of diseases associated with repeated consumption of alcoholic beverages, such as liver cirrhosis and heart disease.

Ø Some studies show that those new to the abuse of alcohol from young people, have a life expectancy of 5 to 10 years younger than those who do not experience this.

Ø Alcohol is a drug more dangerous for women who are pregnant, because in the woman's body turns alcohol into substances harmful to cells that are absorbed by the fetus. In large amounts increases the risk of birth defects, such as "fetal alcohol syndrome," which involves the formation of a small skull, abnormal features, physical and mental retardation. Drinking alcohol in late pregnancy, may also affect the fetus.

Ø In the cardiovascular system, increases the risk of heart disease, the drinking increases levels of lipids (fats in the blood) that can lead to atherosclerosis, increases the risk of early death and heart attack, and the development of cardiomopatia.

Ø In the nervous system, damage the central nervous system is recognized after many years.

Ø developed neurological problems may occur due to lack of vitamin B.

Ø The gastrointestinal system is probably the most damaged by the effect of alcohol consumption. We can see facial ulcers (bleeding ulcers and perforating), pancreas problems and increased incidence of developing esophageal cancer.

Ø Alcoholics may develop cirrhosis. In the first stage of cirrhosis, the liver cells accumulate damage and lipid droplets, the more cells undergo this infiltration, the liver swells more. If drinking continues, scars form until it becomes irreversible.

 

What is alcohol abuse?

 

Alcohol abuse occurs when the drinker gets to feel intoxicated and unable to meet its obligations or endangers her life and that of others while driving, excessive risk taking or has violent behavior under the influence of alcohol. If these episodes in which heavy drinking is frequently repeated, may develop dependence or alcoholism.

 

Can alcoholism be cured?

 

NO. Alcoholism is a treatable illness and medication has become available to prevent relapse, but the cure has yet been found. This means it is possible to maintain abstinence for a long period of time, thereby improving the health of the alcoholic, but relapse is an ongoing risk.