Alcoholism's Physical Effects
Alcoholism effects men and women at different levels and over different amounts of time but one thing that everyone who is an alcoholic has in common is that their bodies will be negatively affected and damaged from the regular intake of alcohol. Alcoholism affects all of the body systems including the brain.
There are short-term effects that last during the drinking phase but once the person is in recovery, those effects go away. There are also long-term effects that are caused by the alcoholism and are permanent damage to the drinker. Some of the short-term effects of alcoholism are related to being drunk.
These include things such as weight loss, intoxication, drunk driving, poor decision-making, and irresponsibility and reproductive disorders. Once the alcoholic is sober, they may have to go through counseling in order to learn better responsibility and decision-making tools but without the alcohol, the person is much better. Of course being intoxicated goes away when the person stops drinking and they have a tendency to gain weight because time that was spent drinking and not eating is replaced with at least eating regular meals.
Alcohol alters the brain and inhibits its functioning. Interestingly, people will feel like they are extra creative and will believe that they are with it. However, alcohol is a depressant and actually slows brain function. Alcohol will actually inhibit creativity and productivity regardless of how it makes the alcoholic feel. The regular use of alcohol will actually alter the reproductive cycle in women and can cause infertility as well as other reproductive related problems.
The long-term or even permanent effects of alcoholism are more dangerous and difficult if not impossible to recover from. Alcoholism causes the human brain to literally shrink over time. This causes brain cells to die and can affect memory, sight, smell, hearing, hormones, and the nervous system. Alcoholism can also cause infertility in both men and women as well as permanent birth defects in babies who are born to alcoholic mothers.
Cirrhosis of the liver and liver cancer can result from excessive drinking as well as cancers of the stomach and breast, too. In addition to health, related effects from alcoholism a person can also suffer in other ways. Many alcoholics drive while they are drunk which can cause traffic accidents. Traffic accidents can include one car or multiple vehicles. These incidences can hurt and even kill many innocent people.
Did You Know
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The problems that come from being raised by an alcoholic are generally environmental and with a lot of hard work can be overcome. Generally, when a child is raised around alcohol and excessive drinking there is a tendency for that child to use alcohol as adults.
Many times children grow up and conduct themselves and their families in a way that is very similar to the way they were raised. It takes a conscious effort to "break the cycle" of addiction that they have witnessed and not carry on that same lifestyle to their children.
The problems that are genetic are more difficult to overcome but once the child is aware that her or she will have a tendency toward addiction they can change the way they deal with stress and other risk factors to help avoid alcoholism.
A gene can determine whether a person will have a tendency toward an addiction toward alcohol. In addition, there are personality and mental health examinations that can be done that can let a person know if they are at risk of being an addict.
Professional addiction counselors recommend that if a person has the gene or tests positive on the examinations they should abstain from the use of alcohol. The genetic push toward addiction is so strong that to tempt the body by using addictive substances is considered risky behavior and should not be attempted. |
Often times the drunk driver simply causes the accident but is not even involved in the actual altercation. Due to the relaxation effects of the alcohol, many times the alcoholic walks away from accidents unharmed. Alcoholism carries with it a multitude of physical effects. The risks of permanent problems and even death are so great that the regular use of alcohol is strongly discouraged.
Interesting Facts
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If the employee refuses to get help, fails at getting help and continues to have their work suffer due to alcoholism, it is within the rights of the employer to let the employee go. |
There are so many ways that an alcoholic can ruin his or her life due to alcohol and they greatly out way any benefits that a person may feel drinking brings. Abstinence is recommended because many people have a difficult time determining how much alcohol is too much and can get easily addicted.
Alcoholism in the News
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12/03/2008
Vail Man Died Of Alcoholism-Related Cause, Autopsy Shows (KMGH 7 Denver)
An autopsy shows a 48-year-old man whose body was found in his Vail apartment over the weekend died of natural causes.
Vail Man Died Of Alcoholism-Related Cause, Autopsy Shows (KMGH 7 Denver)
12/05/2008
Poetry review: 'My Vocabulary Did This to Me' (San Francisco Chronicle)
My Vocabulary Did This to Me The Collected Poetry of Jack Spicer Edited by Peter Gizz and Kevin Killian WESLEYAN; 496 pages; $35 It's a rare poet who shuns publication; even rarer if that poet has undeniable talent. This long-overdue volume is...
Poetry review: 'My Vocabulary Did This to Me' (San Francisco Chronicle)
12/03/2008
Botswana: The Social Aspects of Alcoholism (AllAfrica.com)
"Alcoholism is not a purely genetic condition. Both genetic and environmental factors play a role. There is a genetic component among alcoholics nonetheless," says Dr Philip Opondo, head of psychiatric department at Nyangagbwe Referral Hospital.
Botswana: The Social Aspects of Alcoholism (AllAfrica.com)
12/04/2008
Comptroller's report blasts alcoholism and drug abuse panel (The Star-Ledger)
Matthew Boxer, above, finds agency financed petting zoos, community affairs and even a 'rent expense'
Comptroller's report blasts alcoholism and drug abuse panel (The Star-Ledger)
12/03/2008
Vail Man Died Of Alcoholism-Related Cause, Autopsy Shows (KMGH 7 Denver)
An autopsy shows a 48-year-old man whose body was found in his Vail apartment over the weekend died of natural causes.
Vail Man Died Of Alcoholism-Related Cause, Autopsy Shows (KMGH 7 Denver)
12/05/2008
Poetry review: 'My Vocabulary Did This to Me' (San Francisco Chronicle)
My Vocabulary Did This to Me The Collected Poetry of Jack Spicer Edited by Peter Gizz and Kevin Killian WESLEYAN; 496 pages; $35 It's a rare poet who shuns publication; even rarer if that poet has undeniable talent. This long-overdue volume is...
Poetry review: 'My Vocabulary Did This to Me' (San Francisco Chronicle)
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