October 1, 2009
When Abusive Drinking Results in Serious Health Problems
For several years alcohol dependency research has revealed the fact that there is strong linkage between alcohol dependency and dangerous health conditions.
For instance, in 2005, scientific examination and alcohol abuse and alcoholism statistics revealed that alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency cost the United States an estimated $220 billion on an annual basis. Interestingly, this immense alcohol-related cash disbursement was significantly more than the cost associated with cancer ($196 billion) or with obesity ($133 billion). While it is pertinent to give emphasis to these facts, it is also noteworthy to highlight the fact that an interrelationship exists between all three of these health problems.
More correctly, chronic alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency are also highly correlated with obesity and with cancer.
Definitely, substance abuse research has demonstrated the fact that alcohol dependency can augment the risk for different kinds of cancer, particularly cancer of the colon, voice box (larynx), liver, rectum, throat, kidneys, and the esophagus. Heavy and recurring drinking can also result in immune system difficulties and harm to the fetus during pregnancy.
Irresponsible and Heavy Drinking Weakens the Individual’s Organs and Systems
What is more, if alcoholism continues over a period of years, the person’s body organs will more likely than not be affected in a harmful manner. As an illustration, long-term, excessive drinking is particularly injurious to the liver since the liver does most of the work of processing the alcohol that has been ingested. Extreme amounts of alcohol kills liver cells and eradicates the ability of liver cells to reproduce. This medical circumstance results in a progressive inflammatory disease of the liver that can in the long run lead to cirrhosis of the liver, a grave and potentially lethal disease.Heavy, long-term drinking not only can lead to serious liver damage, but it can also result in damage to the heart and to the brain. Physical damage this dangerous may be irreparable and may, in turn, lead to severe disease or an early death.
The Importance of Alcohol Treatment
It is important, consequently, to know how to identify the different alcoholism symptoms and the “alcohol signs” so that the alcohol dependent person can be given the opportunity to seek the professional alcohol treatment he or she needs.
Alcohol Addiction and Sophisticated Brain Exploration
Fortunately, scientific investigation is persistently generating new and significant information. Recent alcoholism research supplies a high-quality example. More precisely, for roughly the last ten years, complicated brain-imaging scanning devices have confirmed that continuous and long lasting excessive drinking modifies the functionality of the brain to a significant extent, therefore resulting in brain disease that can last months, years, or possibly as long as the person lives.
More explicitly, medical investigation has demonstrated that individuals who have been drinking in an irresponsible manner for a substantial length of time increase their risk for developing long lasting and severe changes in the brain.
This type of damage may be directly related to the alcohol’s effects on the brain, to severe liver disease, or might be indirectly associated with the drinker’s poor overall health.
Malnutrition, Hazardous Drinking, and Mental Disorders
As a final illustration of different medical conditions that are significantly associated with alcohol addiction, take into consideration the fact that in accordance with medical investigation, the abusive and repeated abuse of alcohol can lead to erosive gastritis, a condition that decreases the absorption of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
This kind of organ failure is correlated with malnutrition and to an assortment of critical neurological and mental disorders including sleep disturbances, memory loss, and psychosis such as Wernicke’s Encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s syndrome. This latter medical condition is a long lasting debilitating condition that is exemplified by repetitive learning and memory complications.
Conclusion
It is clear that continued, hazardous drinking is directly or indirectly related to a variety of serious medical problems that can and do result in serious illness and premature death. Such information needs to be emphasized and presented to everyone in our society so that a multitude of individuals will be able to refrain from hazardous drinking while others who have a drinking problem will get the quality therapy they need.
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