- Comprehensive, Overview of treatments, complementary and alternative therapies alcoholism Overall
Regarding the body is concerned, alcohol is a poison. Some effects of chronic alcohol brain damage (women may be more vulnerable to chronic alcohol consumption), liver, pancreas system, the duodenum and central nervous systems. The alcohol causes metabolic damage to every cell in the body and depresses the immune system. It may take years before the consequences of excessive drinking become evident, but if an alcoholic continues drinking, the life of her can be shortened from ten to fifteen years or more.
Alcohol is degraded in the liver. Repeated use of alcohol inhibits production of liver enzymes that would impair the body's ability to absorb proteins, fats and fat-soluble vitamins (vitamins A, D, E and K) and vitamin B complex (particularly thiamine and folic acid) and other water-soluble vitamins. Many essential nutrients are not retained for use by the body, they are rapidly eliminated via urine. The toxic effect of alcohol on the liver is very serious. First, excessive amounts of fat accumulate in the liver, because of the effect of alcohol on the body's ability to digest fats properly. Then, the alcoholic can develop hepatitis, a disease in which liver cells become inflamed and may die. The final, usually fatal, stage of alcoholic liver injury is cirrhosis of the liver, a disease characterized by inflammation, hardening, and scarring of the liver that prevents the normal passage of blood through the liver, inhibition of body ability to filter toxins and foreign substances.
The liver is one of the strongest bodies of the body. It is the only body that has the capacity to regenerate after certain types of damages. Up to 25 percent of the liver can be removed, and in a short period of time, it will grow back to its original shape and size. It must constantly abuses, but if cared for properly, work properly for decades. Alcohol is one of the toxins that the liver does not handle like the others. The liver can not regenerate after being severely damaged by alcohol.
There are many other health consequences of alcohol abuse as well. Alcoholics often damage to their peripheral nervous systems. Damage may initially appear as a loss of sensation in hands or feet, with accompanying difficulty in walking. drinking also causes chronic inflammation of the pancreas. This significantly impedes the body's ability to digest fats and other nutrients, and can lead to diabetes.
Alcoholics cope with an increased risk of cancer of the throat and mouth due to direct toxicity of alcohol. They may also experience high blood pressure, reduce the production of testosterone, dilation of blood vessels visible just below the surface of the skin, and enlargement of the heart disease that can progress to congestive heart failure.
The social consequences of alcoholism can be very destructive as well. Alcohol abuse greatly affects on society through traffic and other accidents, poor work performance, and emotional damage to entire families.
Alcohol and Pregnancy
Drinking during pregnancy is particularly dangerous. The consumption of alcohol during pregnancy can cause birth defects and increases the chances of miscarriage. Alcohol crosses the placenta of the mother and the fetal circulation. This toxic substance depresses the central nervous system of the fetus. In addition, the fetal liver is trying to metabolize alcohol, but since the fetal liver is not fully developed, the alcohol remains in the fetal circulation. Women who drink during pregnancy generally give birth to babies with low birth weight lower. Their growth may be delayed or stunted their br.
Posted on April 26, 2010.