The Suffering Liver Alcohol Abuse and Its Effects

There are many ways by which alcohol abuse can affect our body and our health. Through heavy drinking for over an extended period of time, some of the most important organs and processes of our body are damaged beyond repair. The area that is most prone to irreparable damage is the liver. It functions to clean our body of toxins, and is thus crucial to our health. When alcohol damages the liver, this can lead to various health problems, and a lot of these problems have one endpoint: death. Educating young people regarding the risks of liver damage because of alcohol intake is essential.

The liver is responsible for processing the alcoholic beverages that you consume. A liver that is performing at optimum function can process around one ounce of liquor every hour. If you consume more than this, the liver becomes overworked and the body becomes saturated.

When the body has an oversupply of alcohol, the liquor that was not processed by the liver goes straight to the nervous system, specifically the brain, and this can cause behaviors that are usually associated with being drunk (loss of inhibitions, poor judgment, losing balance, and many others).

This can happen in a few hours, but if alcohol abuse becomes habitual, there will be bigger problems.

Heavy drinking for an extended period of time can cause the liver to become saturated with fat and swollen. Many problems in function and organ systems can be caused by a fat liver, mainly:

- Inadequate supply of blood. A fat liver can choke the blood vessels that carry blood that needed to be cleaned into the liver. This will hinder the blood from delivering nutrients and oxygen to the rest of the body.

- Liver cell death. Because there are no nutrients and oxygen, liver cells become sick and eventually die.

- Scar tissue formation. The liver cells, which have remained alive, will be replaced by scar tissue. In medical terms, this is commonly called as the cirrhosis of the liver.

When the liver has reached the final stage, cirrhosis, the liver cannot process alcohol anymore because there are no more live cells that can perform the function of filtering and metabolizing it.

What is the likelihood that you will get cirrhosis? This can be influenced highly by the genes you inherited from birth. If someone in the family has a history of liver problems, the symptoms of cirrhosis can manifest itself in a relatively short period of time; as little as a year if the individual consumes 3-4 drinks a day. On the other hand, there are some people who are still regular heavy drinkers but are not prone to cirrhosis.

The liver is a vital part of the processes of the human body. It is responsible for the blood that flows from the intestines to the heart. It stores glycogen, the currency of the body used to expend energy. It cleans the blood by breaking down toxins.

Cirrhosis not only affects the old, but the youth as well. It is important that teenagers are properly educated about the risks of binging on alcohol, so that in old age, they will not come to regret the decisions they made when they were still young.

The Dangers of Alcoholism

Alcoholism is defined as the compulsive consumption of alcohol, and the incapability to control or not pay attention to the craving for alcohol. Alcoholics usually reason that they need alcohol to feel good or to function normally. The craving for alcohol is much stronger than the normal craving for chocolates, for example. For alcoholics, the drink can be seen as just as important as food, water, or shelter.

Alcoholism is not dependent on the type or quantity that an individual consumes. He or she can consume 7 bottles of beer per week and he or she can still be considered a non-alcoholic. Alcoholism is characterized by the inability to control the cravings for liquor. The body can develop a tolerance for alcohol over the years, and this pushes the individual to consume more, leading to serious health problems.

Alcoholism is different from alcohol abuse in the sense that an alcohol abuser can still control the intake of alcohol. Alcohol abusers can display behavioral problems like drunk driving or going to work under the influence. Relationships can be damaged, and performing duties can be careless. Both alcoholism and alcohol abuse, while different, are serious problems that need to be addressed.

A keen observer can identify many symptoms of alcoholism. Some symptoms are common of both alcoholism and alcohol abuse. Alcoholism can be seen in people who hide their drinking habit by drinking alone or secretly, memory loss, establishing a ritual of drinking at certain hours of the day and becoming irritable if this ritual has not been followed, feeling that they need to drink in order to feel normal, marital, legal, or financial problems due to alcohol consumption, damage to relationships with other people, and manifesting withdrawal symptoms when they did not get their regular dose of alcohol.

Researchers have shown that some people are pre-disposed to alcoholism more than others. At some point in their lives, people who are more prone will actually exhibit alcoholic behavior. Genetics can be a powerful force in determining if a person can be lured by alcohol. Some studies have also shown that children of alcoholics are more likely to be alcoholics themselves when they grow up. A person experiencing psychological problems can also increase the likelihood for alcoholism. Some psychological conditions that can lead to dependence on alcohol include depression, bipolar disorder, and attention deficit disorder.

Health is also at risk when a person becomes an alcoholic. Alcohol is known to damage the central nervous system, specifically the brain. Over time, an alcoholic can experience fatigue, short-term memory loss, and paralysis of the muscles, most especially the eye muscles. Other health problems that can lead to death are cirrhosis of the liver, heart failure, high blood pressure, and problems in the brain, gastrointestinal tract, reproductive system, and the bones. Alcoholism can also make an individual prone to certain types of cancers, like cancer of the larynx, liver, esophagus, and colon. If alcoholism is left without treatment, it can prove to be fatal.

Alcohol and the Brain

Long-term alcohol abuse not only leads to the shut down of the liver in the body, it can also lead to a smaller brain. Studies that employed brain-imaging machines scanned the brains of alcoholics, and it was shown that the area that controls memory and learning had severely shrunk. The difference between a healthy brain and a shrunk brain is most apparent in the frontal lobe cortex, an area known to neurologists as the site where most intellectual functions are processed. This shrinking does not stop as long as the individual is still binging on alcohol. Usually, loss of short-term memory is the first symptom of brain damage due to alcohol abuse.

A study that took images of an alcoholic’s brain for 5 years showed that the brain became progressively smaller. The amount of reduction in size was directly proportional to the quantity of alcohol consumed by the subjects. In any case, the brain shrinkage of the brains of these alcoholics was not normal.

An individual who has a habit of drinking large quantities of alcohol for long periods is very prone to brain damage due to alcohol. The extent of the damage is dependent on the type and quantity of the alcohol, the systems of the individual in the body, and the diet that the individual has together with chronic drinking.

Binging on alcohol can also cause nutritional problems that lead to brain damage. Malnutrition is observed in many individuals who have consumed large quantities of alcohol. The brain suffers from the lack of vitamins. Thiamine deficiency, in particular, can affect the vital processes and functions of the brain. Alcohol in large amounts is toxic to the system and can lead to failure of the other organs such as the pancreas, kidneys, and liver.

Alcohol is also known to cause severe damage to the central nervous system.

The damage to the brain and to the other organ systems of the body can be reversed, if it there is early intervention. Sometimes, the damage that was detected early on can disappear almost without a trace. A healthy diet consisting of foods that are rich in vitamins like thiamine and vitamin B1 will help undo the effects of alcohol abuse. However, these are not enough. Complete abstinence from alcohol is a must if an individual wants to return his body functions to optimum performance. Milk thistle, a little-known vitamin, is also shown to help repair damage to the liver.

Alcohol and Real Life

Alcohol has consistently been shown to impose risks on health and family life. On the one hand, it is a fun way to interact socially. Some studies even found that it can lower the risk of heart problems. However, too much alcohol can lead to destruction, not only of your life, but your family’s as well.

Perhaps this scenario might sound familiar to you: a friend invites you over to a party. You probably engaged in a drinking contest with an acquaintance, feeling ‘cool’ when you have downed more bottles than anyone else. You might even feel like a celebrity, with people cheering your name as you conquer those bottles of beer. Suddenly, you pause, trying to regain your focus as you see the room starting to spin. In your most drunken moments, you might have let loose a few words or done a few things that you will regret when you are more sober. Then you race to the bathroom, because you start feeling sick. Someone caring enough may even hold your hair as you vomit into the toilet. And then you pass out. When you wake up, the sun is too bright that it is almost unbearable, your head pounds, and you generally feel bad the whole day.

In the end, it wasn’t all worth it. Sure, you had fun, but you may have managed to anger a few people, embarrassed yourself in front of many, and wasted a whole day feeling sick to the stomach after your night of fun. Still, maybe you can’t resist. Sooner or later, when someone invites you, you’ll begin the whole cycle again.

The scenario illustrated above can be a good example as to what will happen to you if you abuse alcohol. Drinking alcohol is fine, as long as it is done in moderation. It can help you unwind after a very long and stressful day, and you can manage to have fun with friends. However, take care not to push things too far. Occasional drinking is fine, but if it turns into an addiction, you are in trouble. There have been many documented devastating effects on many lives. Many families were broken up because of alcohol abuse. The night of fun just isn’t worth the long lifetime of paying for its eventual consequences.

There is serious risk to your health too. Alcohol taxes the liver; when you drink alcohol, your liver will be forced to work even when it should be resting. What you’re doing in your youth may not bother you so much, but when you reach middle or old age and you discover that you’ll need a new liver, the regret can be unbearable. Aside from the ill effects of alcohol on your body, you might still live a shorter life than most. Drunk driving is one of most common causes of death, either to the driver or to the hapless pedestrian. Studies found that alcohol abusers are more likely to drive, and this leads to accidents. Even if you do not manage to kill someone, you can spend your life in jail because of drunk driving.

The risks of alcohol abuse are far more long-lasting and severe than its benefits. Next time you’re thinking of consuming that one last beer bottle even if you know you’re over your limit, think again. It’s just not worth it.

Alcohol Abuse and Your Teenager

Teenagers are seen to have problems in alcohol use all around the world. Just observe the movies or the streets when you go out. But under the façade of confidence and carefree living, there are consequences that teenagers will have to face when they have engaged in long bouts of drinking. The façade is highly deceptive, and it is time that we do something about it.

Many factors contribute to the causes of alcohol abuse in teenagers. Most notable of them are environmental and psychological factors. If a teenager experience troubles at home and peer pressure at the same time, there is a high likelihood that they will turn to alcohol for relief and escape. The emotional pain can be masked by the euphoric and numbing effects that alcohol can bring. However, even if there are no problems regarding school or home, a teenager may find it hard to refuse a beer bottle once it is handed out to him or her. Teenagers perceive that they will not be accepted in the social circle if they do not accept the alcohol offered to them, and so they drink. Most teenagers drink because they want to be popular, or because they do not want to be left out from the ‘fun’ in the party.

If a teenager is of legal age and consumes as little as three bottles of beer per year, this will pose no problem at all. However, many teenagers drink a lot more than three bottles, and this can lead to serious illnesses and behavioral problems associated with alcohol abuse. Age and quantity consumed are very important factors in predicting alcoholism later on. The younger the teenager starts to drink and the more liquor he or she consumes, the more likely he or she will become an alcoholic when he or she enters his or her adult years. There are also risks of developing mental and behavioral problems that can affect the teenager’s education but also one’s home, family, and future.

There are many ways to tell if a teenager is addicted to alcohol. A parent may notice sudden changes in behavior, such as preferring to spend time alone more often. He or she can also be unresponsive or uncommunicative about his or her feelings. There can also be instances of violence and mood swings. The school may even notice a rapid decline in grades that are symptomatic of alcohol and drug users. Lying, or other behavioral problems, can also be indicative of alcohol abuse.