For more than a few years alcoholism exploration has demonstrated the fact that there is strong association between alcohol addiction and critical health conditions and mental health issues such as depression.
For instance, in 2005, scientific investigation and alcohol abuse and alcoholism statistics revealed that alcohol abuse and alcoholism cost the United States an estimated $220 billion annually. Interestingly, this huge alcohol-related expense was substantially more than the cost linked with cancer ($196 billion) or with obesity ($133 billion). While it is important to emphasize these facts, it is also noteworthy to highlight the fact that an interrelationship exists between all three of these health issues.
Stated another way, chronic alcohol abuse and alcoholism are also highly interrelated with obesity and with cancer.
Undeniably, substance abuse examination has revealed that alcohol addiction can boost the risk for various kinds of cancer, particularly cancer of the kidneys, rectum, colon, voice box (larynx), esophagus, throat, and the liver. Abusive and recurring drinking can also lead to immune system difficulties and abnormality to the fetus during pregnancy.
Excessive and Irresponsible Drinking Destabilizes the Person’s Organs and Systems
Additionally, if alcohol addiction continues over a period of years, the individual’s body organs will likely be affected in a negative manner. For instance, long-term, abusive drinking is particularly dangerous to the liver due to the fact that 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 regenerate. This medical circumstance leads to a progressive inflammatory disease of the liver that can eventually lead to cirrhosis of the liver, a precarious and potentially incurable medical problem. Heavy, long-term drinking not only can result in severe liver damage, but it can also lead to damage to the heart and to the brain. Physical damage this serious may be irreparable and may, in turn, lead to serious disease or an early death.
The Significance of Alcohol Therapy
It is vital, therefore, 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 get the professional alcohol therapy he or she requires.
Alcohol Addiction and Technologically Advanced Brain Exploration
Fortunately, scientific examination is continuously generating unique and significant information. Recent alcoholism exploration provides a first-rate illustration. More specifically, for approximately the last ten years, technologically advanced brain-imaging scanning devices have verified that continuous and long-term hazardous drinking transforms the constitution of the brain to a great extent, thereby resulting in brain disease that can last months, years, or perhaps as long as the individual lives.
More explicitly, medical examination has revealed that people who have been drinking in a hazardous manner for a sizeable length of time increase their risk for developing long lasting and substantial adaptations in the brain.
This type of damage may be indirectly associated with the drinker’s poor overall health or directly related to severe liver disease or to the alcohol’s effects on the brain.
Mental Disorders, Malnutrition, and Abusive Drinking
As a final illustration of various medical problems that are substantially related to alcohol dependency, consider that in accordance with medical examination, the hazardous and repeated abuse of alcohol can lead to erosive gastritis, a condition that reduces the absorption of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
This form of organ malfunctioning is related to malnutrition and to an array of critical mental and neurological disorders including sleep disturbances, memory loss, and psychosis such as Wernicke’s Encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s syndrome. This latter medical condition is a long-term incapacitating medical condition that is typified by repetitive memory and learning problems.
Irresponsible and Hazardous Drinking Also Leads to in Relationship and Friendship Issues
In addition to critical health problems, excessive drinking also results in friendship and relationship issues. For example, people who engage in heavy drinking commonly suffer from affairs, sexuality issues, divorce, and marital difficulties.
Conclusion: The Relevance of Education
It is obvious that repetitive, abusive drinking is directly or indirectly related to a number of critical medical conditions that can and do result in dangerous ailments and premature death. Such information needs to be underlined and presented to everyone in our society, especially to all students, so that a multitude of individuals will be able to abstain from irresponsible drinking while others who have a drinking problem will get the professional rehabilitation they need.
Let us look at this rationally. Yes, alcohol counseling is significant, but alcohol treatment is something that is often done AFTER the fact. Education, on the other hand, is something that is done BEFORE the problem manifests itself. Stated another way, whereas alcohol counseling is “reactive,” education is “proactive.” It is asserted that both approaches are required when discussing alcoholism and alcohol abuse.
Tags: alcoholism, Relationships, self improvement, singles