Alcoholism, or alcohol addiction as it is better known, is one of the most widespread diseases that afflict the modern world. With the ever increasing pace of life and the myriad tensions that come along with it, more and more people are turning to the bottle as a respite from the mounting stress of their workplace and social life. However, not many know that alcohol is, in itself, a major cause of all their woes. The reason for this is that alcohol, by nature, is a depressant which means, the more you drink, the more your mind succumbs to the plunging depths of despair, which in turn leads you to drink even more to cope with this depression. And as a result of this vicious cycle, the body of the alcoholic suffers, unable to keep up with the mounting levels of the intoxicant that are poured into it.
When you drink alcohol, it passes into your esophagus and then into your stomach, from where it is absorbed into the blood. All this blood then passes into your liver, which is responsible for breaking down this alcohol into other chemicals, which are then further converted into water and carbon dioxide which can be excreted. This process is far from simple and cannot be carried out by your liver instantaneously. So, when you drink more alcohol than your liver can put up with, the level of alcohol in your bloodstream rises.
Alcohol directly attacks your liver by causing large amounts of fat to be deposited in it. Although this condition is not very severe and can be reversed if you stop drinking heavily, it can also lead to alcohol hepatitis where your liver is inflamed. In its mild stages, hepatitis is usually not noticed as it does not have any distinct symptoms of its own. However, when this inflammation becomes chronic, it leads to over production of bilirubin in the liver, which causes jaundice and finally liver failure. Further, alcohol also leads to the production of scar tissue in the liver or fibrosis. This scar tissue damages the cells in your liver and prevents new ones from growing, which can also result in liver failure. Liver Cirrhosis is even more difficult to detect as the symptoms manifest themselves very gradually and often when the condition is at its most severe.
Alcoholics are also more prone to heart disease as their over-consumption of alcohol causes severe damage to the heart and also increases their blood pressure. Prolonged abuse may also lead to your heart becoming weakened and enlarged, a dangerous complication known as Cardiomyopathy. Your cardiovascular health is also compromised on as a result of the elevated triglyceride levels alcohol leads to.
Alcohol also assaults the nervous system, which includes the brain, the spinal chord and the peripheral nervous system, resulting in impaired cognitive abilities, a condition referred to as 'Alcohol Dementia'. The victim also suffers from frequent memory lapses, which he tries to cover up by concocting lucid stories, finds basic problem solving and activities which involve learning, extremely challenging and can even succumb to paranoia. This complication, known as Korsakoff Psychosis is very difficult to treat as the victim is actually dwelling in a delusional world.
Alcohol Abuse is also responsible for severe inflammation of the pancreas or Pancreatitis, a condition that often develops into Diabetes. Alcoholic drinks are also very high in calories, leading to the individual growing obese and suffering from high blood pressure. Alcohol also depletes the inner stomach lining, thus depriving the body of many vital nutrients. The loss of appetite, which most alcoholics suffer from, also makes them malnourished and impairs their immunity to a host of diseases. Alcohol also induces cancerous growth in the victim's mouth, liver, colon and gullet. Males are susceptible to erectile dysfunction while women may face several complications in their pregnancy and also an irregular menstrual cycle.
Although moderate quantities of alcohol can be absorbed by your body and even aid it in the prevention of heart disease, drinking more than three times a day will drastically turn the tables. Hence, as the adage goes, "If you haven't begun to drink, don't start." Indeed, there are several other ways by which you can lower your risk of heart disease like regular exercise and a moderate diet. Remember, one of the most deceptive of all the symptoms of alcoholism, is the victim's inability to recognize his own addiction. And many of the physical manifestations lie latent until only severe measures have to be called for The next time you raise a toast, pause a minute to contemplate over the tremendous damage you are causing your body with every excessive drink that you take and think about whether those nights of drunken stupor are indeed worth risking your life for
Year of the Dog
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Avenging Angelo
