For a number of years alcoholism research has demonstrated the fact that there is strong association between alcoholism and life-threatening health conditions and mental health issues such as depression.
For instance, in 2005, medical examination and alcohol abuse and alcoholism statistics demonstrated the fact that that alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction cost the United States an estimated $220 billion per year. It can be stressed that this considerable alcohol-related cash outlay was substantially more than the cost linked with cancer ($196 billion) or with obesity ($133 billion). While it is appropriate to highlight these facts, it is also noteworthy to emphasize the point that an interrelationship exists between all three of these health issues.
To be exact, chronic alcohol abuse and alcoholism are also highly correlated with obesity and with cancer.
Certainly, substance abuse research has shown that alcoholism can augment the risk for different forms of cancer, especially cancer of the liver, voice box (larynx), kidneys, colon, esophagus, rectum, and the throat. Heavy and recurring drinking can also result in immune system problems and harm to the fetus during pregnancy.
Excessive and Abusive Drinking Destabilizes the Person’s Systems and Organs
What is more, if alcohol dependency continues over a period of years, the person’s body organs will likely be affected in an unhealthy manner. As an illustration, repeated, abusive drinking is particularly hurtful to the liver due to the fact that the liver does most of the work of processing the alcohol that has been ingested. Unwarranted amounts of alcohol kills liver cells and eradicates the ability of liver cells to regenerate. This medical circumstance leads to a progressive inflammatory injury to the liver that can ultimately lead to cirrhosis of the liver, a serious and possibly incurable medical problem. Heavy, long-term drinking not only can lead to acute liver damage, but it can also lead to damage to the heart and to the brain. Physical damage this critical may be irreversible and may, in turn, lead to severe ill health or an early death.
The Critical Nature of Alcohol Therapy
It is essential, then, to know how to identify the different alcoholism symptoms and the “alcohol signs” so that the alcohol addicted person can be given the opportunity to seek the quality alcohol rehabilitation he or she requires.
Alcohol Addiction and Technologically Advanced Brain Exploration
Fortuitously, medical investigation is continuously unearthing new and important information. Recent alcoholism exploration offers a high-quality example. Stated differently, for approximately the past ten years, technologically advanced brain-imaging scanning devices have confirmed that continuous and recurring abusive drinking changes the structure of the brain to a significant extent, thereby resulting in brain disease that can last months, years, or possibly as long as the individual exists.
More exactly, medical exploration has revealed that individuals who have been drinking in a hazardous manner for a sizeable length of time increase their risk for developing lasting and significant transformations in the brain.
This type of damage may be directly related to the alcohol’s effects on the brain, to severe liver disease, or might be indirectly associated with the drinker’s poor overall health.
Mental Disorders, Malnutrition, and Abusive Drinking
As a final example of different health problems that are largely correlated to alcohol dependency, consider that according to scientific exploration, the excessive and repeated abuse of alcohol can result in erosive gastritis, a medical condition that limits the absorption of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
This kind of organ malfunctioning is related to malnutrition and to an assortment of acute neurological and mental maladies including memory loss, sleep disturbances, and psychosis such as Wernicke’s Encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s syndrome. This latter medical condition is an enduring debilitating health problem that is characterized by continual memory and learning difficulties.
Careless Drinking Also Results in Relationship and Friendship Issues
In addition to acute medical conditions, hazardous drinking also results in friendship and relationship issues. For instance, people who engage in heavy drinking typically suffer from affairs, divorce, marital problems, and sexuality problems.
Summary: The Relevance of Education
It is apparent that repetitive, abusive drinking is directly or indirectly linked to numerous critical medical problems that can and do result in dangerous ailments and premature death. Such information needs to be emphasized and presented to everyone in our society, especially to all students, so that a large number of people will be able to refrain from excessive drinking while other people who have a drinking problem will get the professional treatment they require.
Let us look at this with a common sense perspective. Yes, alcohol treatment is important, but alcohol counseling is something that is commonly done AFTER the fact. Education, on the other hand, is something that is done BEFORE the problem manifests itself. Stated differently, whereas alcohol rehabilitation is “reactive,” education is “proactive.” It is stressed that both approaches are required when discussing alcohol problems.
Tags: alcoholism, relationships, self improvement, sexuality