FollowText.com » Health » Stop Drinking Tips - The Slow Poison

Stop Drinking Tips - The Slow Poison

by: DavidPeters
Total views: 7 | Word Count: 911

With today's competitive world and the endless pressures that come along with the breakneck pace at which we live, resorting to a soothing drink to tide you through the tough times isn't an uncommon phenomenon. In fact, with every day that passes, larger numbers of people are falling prey to the devastating disease called alcoholism. The problem lies not only in the fact that they are trying to drink their worries away, but also that they are in the dark about the fact that alcohol is in itself a depressant. And hence, they continue to drink, in order to relieve the depression which they have brought on to themselves by consuming excessive amounts of alcohol. And while they delve deeper into the recesses alcohol plunges them into, their bodies also suffer severe and often irrevocable damage, which if not treated in time, can also result in death.

Alcohol begins its journey through your body from the esophagus, from where it passes to your stomach, from where it is assimilated into your bloodstream. This blood is then directed to your liver, where it is broken down into several other chemicals, which in turn are converted into carbon dioxide and water which your system can excrete. This is a long and complicated process which takes your liver a certain amount of time to complete, and if you try to rush it by drinking more alcohol than your liver is capable of converting, the levels of alcohol in your bloodstream can rise to dangerous levels.

Your liver is the worst hit, as alcohol causes large amounts of fats to be deposited in it. This condition is not very severe in its nascent phases and can even be reversed if you cut down on your drinking patterns. If ignored, it can even lead to the inflammation of your liver, a condition which is labeled Alcohol Hepatitis. Hepatitis is not usually discernible at its initial stages, as it does not display any explicit symptoms that are characteristic of it. But once this condition develops into the chronic phase, the liver begins to produce excessive amounts of bilirubin leading to jaundice and ultimately liver failure. Excessive consumption of alcohol also leads to the formation of scar tissue, a process labeled as Fibrosis. This scar tissue damages the cells in your liver and disrupts the production of new cells, thus causing your liver to grow weaker over time and finally results in liver failure. This disease is very difficult to detect and diagnose as the symptoms are often latent for many years and only emerge when the condition is in its most crucial chapters.

Alcohol is also a primary villain in the development of heart disease. Heavy drinking, over a period of time, damages the heart and leads to high blood pressure and even stroke. Further, alcoholism is also known to cause Alcoholic Cardiomyopathy, where your heart becomes weakened and enlarged on account of your prolonged alcohol abuse. Excessive intake of alcohol also increases the triglyceride levels, making you more vulnerable to heart disease.

Long-term alcohol abuse may lead to a condition called 'Alcohol Dementia' where your learning skills, memory and other cognitive abilities are severely disrupted. The reason for this disease lies in the damage alcohol causes to the brain, the spinal cord and the peripheral nervous system. Over time, this condition develops to memory lapses and the alcoholic finds basic problem solving and performing tasks which require learning skills very difficult to accomplish. This condition may further develop into paranoia or Korsakoff psychosis, where the individual makes up intricate stories to make up for the lapses in his memory.

Alcoholism also puts the individual at a heightened risk of contracting Pancreatitis or a severe inflammation of the pancreas, which may increase his changes of contracting diabetes. Alcoholics are also prone to high blood pressure and obesity as a result of the high calorific value of alcohol. Further, alcohol can also wear out the lining of your stomach, thus impairing the absorption of many essential nutrients, eventually leading to further loss of appetite and eventually undernourishment. Excessive consumption of alcohol has also been found to be one of the influencing factors in the development of cancer of the mouth, liver, colon and gullet. Male alcoholics are also prone to erectile dysfunction, while women face disruptions in their menstrual cycle and can also cause severe complications during pregnancy.

Although research has proved that the body can absorb moderate levels of alcohol and even profit from the lowered risk of heart disease that alcohol grants, it is vital that you remember that drinking any more than three times a day, brings the negative traits if alcohol to the fore. There are several other, more proven ways to boost your cardiovascular health, like a well-planned diet and an active lifestyle which incorporates a reasonable amount of exercise. It may so happen that you, as a victim may very often be unaware of the devastating impact your consumption of alcohol is causing, as one of the primary symptoms of alcoholism. Many symptoms may not be discernible, until they are at their most crucial phases, which makes treating them a lot more difficult. So, the next time you set out on a night of mindless partying, which can't do without frivolous amounts of alcohol, pay heed to that little voice which reminds you of all the damage you are inflicting on yourself and consider if that shot of vodka is indeed worth jeopardizing your physical and mental wellbeing

About the Author

Discover how to Stop Drinking Alcohol Written by Ed Philips and Quit Alcohol Today.

Stop Drinking Tips - The Slow Poison

About the Author

More Articles from: Health