It is commonly believed that there are only two diseases caused by alcohol and its continual and heavy abuse: Alcoholism and cirrhosis of the liver. Certainly cirrhosis is often a side companion of alcoholism which in itself may have genetic origins.
However there are a number of other diseases which are directly associated with the consumption of heavy drinking, the following are a few of such diseases beginning with the most prevalent –
Liver Cirrhosis. This disease results from the scarring of healthy liver tissue, and interferes with the correct function of the organ causing bile to accumulate in the bloodstream. This can have several effects such as appetite and weight loss, jaundice, loss of cognitive ability, tremors and eventual coma. All of these conditions will be accompanied by an ever increase in blood pressure.
Pancreatitis. This can be similar to cirrhosis in that it causes inflammation and scarring of the pancreas. The symptoms are acute abdominal pain along with vomiting, excess perspiration and a fever. Levels of blood glucose can be affected since the disease interferes with the body’s natural method of insulin production.
Hypertension. The heavy use of alcohol also induces the condition known as hypertension which is strongly linked to an elevated blood pressure. Excess blood is being caused to flow through the arteries and can damage the inner walls of the arteries leading to pulmonary edema, aneurysm, angina, and heart attacks. Some people already have a genetic pre-disposition to hypertension which will be considerable exacerbated in the heavy drinker of alcohol.
Osteoporosis. This disease is more commonly associated with the aging process, but can be induced at an earlier stage by the effects of alcohol. The mass of the bone tissue becomes severely depleted causing the bones to become brittle and vulnerable to breakage. The habitual presence of alcohol has a counter effect against the necessary vitamins and minerals for good bone health.
Wernick-Kordakoff Syndrome. Alcohol abuse frequently leads to this serious disease. It is a mental condition resulting from a brain illness. It is commonly viewed by the medical profession as being a combination of two illnesses both brought on by continual alcohol drinking. The alcohol causes a vital vitamin deficiency which brings about an actual alteration in the brain, which affects the way the brain functions to a considerable degree. This can often be a permanent situation. Sufferers from the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome exhibit symptoms such as blurring of the vision, the inability to remember clearly, cognitive problems, and trouble with movement of the legs.
There is no known medical cure for alcoholism, counseling can be useful but frequently only provides a temporary solution as do most kinds of drug therapy. The only method which has proven to have a high success rate in combating alcoholism is the twelve step program of Alcoholics Anonymous, where the disease is arrested one day at a time.
However there are a number of other diseases which are directly associated with the consumption of heavy drinking, the following are a few of such diseases beginning with the most prevalent –
Liver Cirrhosis. This disease results from the scarring of healthy liver tissue, and interferes with the correct function of the organ causing bile to accumulate in the bloodstream. This can have several effects such as appetite and weight loss, jaundice, loss of cognitive ability, tremors and eventual coma. All of these conditions will be accompanied by an ever increase in blood pressure.
Pancreatitis. This can be similar to cirrhosis in that it causes inflammation and scarring of the pancreas. The symptoms are acute abdominal pain along with vomiting, excess perspiration and a fever. Levels of blood glucose can be affected since the disease interferes with the body’s natural method of insulin production.
Hypertension. The heavy use of alcohol also induces the condition known as hypertension which is strongly linked to an elevated blood pressure. Excess blood is being caused to flow through the arteries and can damage the inner walls of the arteries leading to pulmonary edema, aneurysm, angina, and heart attacks. Some people already have a genetic pre-disposition to hypertension which will be considerable exacerbated in the heavy drinker of alcohol.
Osteoporosis. This disease is more commonly associated with the aging process, but can be induced at an earlier stage by the effects of alcohol. The mass of the bone tissue becomes severely depleted causing the bones to become brittle and vulnerable to breakage. The habitual presence of alcohol has a counter effect against the necessary vitamins and minerals for good bone health.
Wernick-Kordakoff Syndrome. Alcohol abuse frequently leads to this serious disease. It is a mental condition resulting from a brain illness. It is commonly viewed by the medical profession as being a combination of two illnesses both brought on by continual alcohol drinking. The alcohol causes a vital vitamin deficiency which brings about an actual alteration in the brain, which affects the way the brain functions to a considerable degree. This can often be a permanent situation. Sufferers from the Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome exhibit symptoms such as blurring of the vision, the inability to remember clearly, cognitive problems, and trouble with movement of the legs.
There is no known medical cure for alcoholism, counseling can be useful but frequently only provides a temporary solution as do most kinds of drug therapy. The only method which has proven to have a high success rate in combating alcoholism is the twelve step program of Alcoholics Anonymous, where the disease is arrested one day at a time.
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