MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS OF ALCOHOLISM AND ALCOHOL DEPENDENCE

people drinks alcohol.

Alcohol abuse refers to continued alcohol use despite awareness of social, occupational, psychological or physical problems associated with drinking. The following are criteria used to diagnose alcohol abuse occurring at any time during a 12 month period:

• A failure to fulfill important responsibility at home, work or school.
• Drinking in dangerous ways situations, example before driving.
• Legal problems associated with alcohol. 
• Continuation of alcohol drink despite of problems caused by alcohol abuse.

Alcohol dependence is a seperate disorder in which person develops a strong craving for alcohol because it produce pleasurable feelings or relieves stress or anxiety.

Alcoholism is a primary, chronic disease in which genetic, psychosocial and environmental factors influence its development and manifestations, as defined by the National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence and the American Society of Addiction.

CAUSES OF ALCOHOL ABUSE AND DEPENDENCE.

There is no known exactly causes of alcohol abuse and dependence but there are number of factors such  as bio-chemical imbalance in the brain, heredity, cultural acceptability and emotional feelings (stress) tend to contribute to alcohol abuse and dependence, includes:

• Past Traumatic Experience

Previous and recent physical, emotional and psychological problems seems to be the reason for the people to start drinking heavily as a way of coping with problems.

• Genetics

Addictive disorders thought to be caused by specific genes but no prove have been show evidence of heredity's role on alcohol abuse and dependence. One third of the risk of becoming alcoholic in identical twins for both men and women have been suggested by the studies.

• Parental Alcoholism

Behaviour of alcoholic from parents increase four to five times more chance of their children to alcoholic. The sons and daughters of alcoholic parents share certain characteristics such as early onset of alcoholism with severe social consequences, unstable family, poor academic and social performance in school and antisocial behaviours.

• Stress

As in traumatic experience, people tend to involve in drink problems as the way of coping with emotional stress.

• Drug Abuse

Other psychological drugs are strongly associated with drink problems (marijuana, cocaine, heroin, amphetamines and various anti anxiety medications). Young adults both men and women are more likely to combine alcohol with anti anxiety drugs (benzodiazepines / sleeping pills).

• Peer Pressure

Influence from one of alcoholic members or group play important role on drag people into alcohol problems.

MEDICAL COMPLICATIONS RELATED TO ALCOHOLISM.

• Brain Damage

Irreversible brain damage resulting from alcohol consumption is secondary to alzheimer's disease as a cause of deterioration of cognitive in adults. Other effects are memory loss, poor concentration, unable to recall objects and names or unable to follow simple instructions.

• Cancer

Tumour of liver, stomach, and colon are contributes greatly by heavy alcohol drink, also malignant like melanoma (deadly form of skin cancer). In combination with tobacco use it increase risk of cancer of mouth, tongue, larynx and oesophagus.

• Digestive Tract Disorders

Alcohol tend to break protective lining of digestive tract and trigger gastric juice (acid) secretion in the stomach that cause gastritis and peptic ulcer disease that could complicated into medical emergencies conditions such as penetration, bleeding and perforation of stomach lining. 

• Cardiovascular Diseases

Weakness of cardiac muscles (cardiomyopathy), hypertension (high blood pressure), stroke and other cardiac problems are caused by heavy alcohol drinking.

• Liver diseases

All chemicals includes alcohol are metabolized by the liver, its makes it vulnerable to alcohol effects. Medical illness such as alcoholic hepatitis, cirrhosis and liver cancer are among of liver diseases caused by alcoholism.

• Reproductive and Sexual Dysfunction

Male sexual function and fertility is affected directly by alcoholism through effect on hormone known as testosterone and the testicles. Damage to the nerve that innervate  male organ (penis) by heavy drinking can lead to impotence. In female, Menstrual irregularity and infertility are among of health reproductive problems in women who drinks heavily (see, adverse effects of alcohol in women).

• Fetal Alcohol syndrome and Fetal Alcohol Effects

It recommended to pregnant women not to drink alcohol at all in order to avoid adverse effects on their unborn babies and their health.

• Vitamin Deficiency

Vitamin deficiency is highly related to alcoholism especially vitamin B1 (thiamin) that is responsible for certain disorders of neurological, digestive, muscular and cardiovascular systems. Also lack of vitamin B may results in Wernicke korsakoff syndrome (disorientation, memory failure, hallucination and jerky eye movements).

• Accidents and Injuries

Alcohol is among of leading  cause of accidents and injuries around the world, alcohol increase risk of accident which can have a devastating effect on your life and those close to you. It can result in hospitalisation, and even death. When people drink too much on one occasion it can cause alcohol-related accidents. 

• Higher Mortality and Morbidity

Research has linked consumption of alcohol to the increase of mortality rate and morbidity rate due to medical complications such as cancer, liver diseases etc associated with alcohol drink.

• Withdrawal Danger 

Withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, vomiting,  rapid breathing, tremors or uncontrollable shaking, elevated heart rate, elevated blood pressure, sweating, insomnia or sleep difficulties, nightmares or unusual dreams, irritability and anxiety can be severe and may require medical attention.

NB: Stopping drinking is becoming hard as the person develop physical tolerance and dependence.