Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

alcohol-abuse-and-alcoholis SIMS Hospital

What are Alcohol abuse and alcoholism?

Abuse of alcohol and alcohol can lead to severe health conditions. Some disorders such as osteoporosis are
aggravated by alcohol. It may contribute to some cancers. Alcohol abuse also makes other health issues, such as heart disease, difficult to diagnose. This is due to the way the circulatory system is affected by alcohol.

How does Alcohol
affect a person?

Every organ in the body is affected by alcohol. It is a depressing central nervous system that is rapidly absorbed into the
bloodstream from the stomach and small intestine. In the liver, alcohol is metabolized by enzymes. However, a small amount of alcohol can be metabolized at a time by the liver, leaving the excess alcohol to circulate throughout the
body. The intensity of the effect of alcohol on the body is directly related to the amount consumed.

What health problems are associated with excessive alcohol use?

Excessive drinking in the form of heavy drinking or binge drinking is associated with numerous health problems, including

  •  Chronic diseases such as liver cirrhosis (liver cell damage); pancreatitis (pancreatic inflammation); various cancers
     including liver, mouth, throat, larynx (voice box) and esophagus; high blood pressure; and psychological disorders.
    Unintentional injuries, such as motor-vehicle traffic crashes, falls, drowning, burns, and firearm injuries.
  • Abuse, including child abuse, murder, and suicide. 
  • If a woman drinks during pregnancy, such as fetal alcohol spectrum disorders, damage the developing fetus. 
  • The condition of sudden infant death (SIDS). 
  • Disorders in the use of alcohol.

Alcohol abuse treatment:

Some prescription medicines can be used to treat alcohol abuse by helping people to stop or reduce drinking. Once
you’ve found a treatment that works for you, sticking to that treatment is important. Additionally, avoiding
circumstances involving a lot of alcohol is helpful.

  • Do-it-yourself
  • Counseling
  • Treating underlying problems
  • Residential programs
  • Drug that provokes a severe reaction to alcohol
  • Drugs for cravings
  • Detoxification
  • Abstinence
  • Alcoholics Anonymous