What Is Alcholism? 

 

In order to be able to help yourself or to help the people you love who have fallen victim to the disease of alcoholism you must know what you are dealing with.

Here we answer some of the frequently asked questions that many people want answers to in regards to alcoholism.

How do the harmful effects of consuming alcohol affect the brain?

The cognitive abilities of the brain are affected by alcohol consumption as is attention span, coordination and the ability to sleep properly. These are all acute effects of alcohol consumption. Alcohol also negatively impairs memory and concentration. On a long-term basis, brain cells die off as a result of heavy alcohol consumption as do the cells of the brain that provide the rest of the body with adequate nutrients and energy.

Are there medications that are able to help in the treatment of alcoholism?

Yes and no. Alcoholism is a disease that can be treated but no known cure is currently available. There are a variety of medications however that are often prescribed as part of the treatment plan geared towards alcoholics.

Not all of the medications yield the same result. Some are geared at making it easier for a person to get used to being sober while others are geared towards easing the physical symptoms of stopping drinking.

The number one desired effect for all of the medications is to make it as easy as possible for an individual to abstain from consuming alcohol all together. The most commonly prescribed drugs include Antabuse, Naltrexone, Acamprosate, and Sodium Oxybate.

 Did You Know

The Addictive Side Of Alcoholism

Yes, it is a disease, but Alcoholism is also an addiction.

 It is the undeniable need for a drink that makes if an addiction.

It is the inability to stop at just one drink, and the level of difficulty in quitting, requiring professional assistance and the need for a support group to be able to kick the drinking habit; that makes Alcoholism an addiction.

Alcohol is after all a drug. As an addiction the condition is a progressive one. It changes in intensity growing and taking over like weeds in a garden.

Addiction robs the drinker of the ability to see beyond the haze of alcohol to the reality of situations. T

hey may see an exaggerated reality that is fuzzy and unreal. Addiction makes choices for you that you would not otherwise make.

Addiction often takes the romance out of relationships.

Some alcohol-related illnesses that female alcoholics are at risk for include heart disease, ulcers, reproductive problems, pancreatitis, memory loss, and osteoporosis. 

In the late stages of alcoholism, women can develop hypertension, anemia, and malnutrition faster than men according to the Centers for Disease Control.  Several recent research projects have determined that excessive alcohol consumption in women can result in breast cancer and different cancers of the digestive tract. 

A recent study showed that women who drink two to five alcoholic drinks per day have a 41 percent increase in their risk of getting breast cancer.  Research has shown that excessive drinking in women actually causes the brain to shrink. 

 
 

Is there a difference between social drinking and problem drinking?

Yes there is. Social drinking is classified as being mild to moderate drinking (such as one to three drinks at a given time) which is done for the purpose of relaxing at home or out with friends. In the case of social drinking, the drinking is kept in check- there is no impaired judgement, no loss of control and no loss of any level of responsibility on the individual’s part.

Problem drinking on the other hand is drinking that takes place on a continual basis despite the fact that a host of problems arises because of it. These problems could involve social problems, legal problems, physical problems or occupational related problems that are directly caused by drinking or else are made worst by consuming alcohol.

An example of this might be a college student who goes on a drinking binge every second or third weekend and then misses a day or two of classes at the start of the school week in order to recuperate. This person shows no other noticeable symptoms that his drinking has developed into a problem.

Interesting Facts

If a family member is worrying you with their behavor when they are drinking, make arrangements so that you have a safe place to go when their drinking gets out of hand.
 

Are there any medical tests that can be done to help detect if a person’s body is being affected by too much alcohol consumption?

Yes there is. There are a variety of diagnostic tests that are put to use in the medical community to test for how much alcohol an individual has consumed and how exactly the consumption of alcohol has affected the person’s bodily organs.

Alcohol can have a harmful effect on many different organs of the body including the liver, the kidneys and the brain. Some of the most commonly done medical diagnostic tests are liver function tests, full blood count and blood alcohol content.


 

 
 alcohol affects
 

Better Your Health

Site Map
What is the Attraction To Alcohol
Alcoholism is a Widespread Problem
◦ The Difference Between Alcohol Dependence And Alcohol Abuse
◦ FAQ's About Alcoholism Pt 1
◦ FAQ's About Alcoholism Pt 2
◦ A Brief Summary Regarding Alcoholism
◦ Alcohol Abuse and the College Campus
◦ The Brain And Alcohol
◦ Health Risks For Women Alcoholics
◦ Holiday Survival Guide For The Alcoholic
◦ How A Child See's Alcoholism
◦ Alcoholism Detoxification Steps
◦ Alcoholism and the Workplace
◦ The Children of Alcoholics
◦ Common Questions About Alcoholism
◦ Tests for Alcohol Use
◦ Do All Alcoholics Need a Rehab Center
◦ The Dangers and Penalties Of Drinking and Driving
◦ The War On Drunk Driving
◦ How To Determine When Someone Needs Professional Help
◦ Some Facts About Alcoholism
◦ Fetal Alcohol Syndrome
◦ Diet Hints To Assist With Alcoholism Withdrawal
◦ Helping Someone To Overcome Alcoholism
◦ Alcoholism Risk Is Linked to Early Aged Drinking
◦ A Portrait Of An Alcoholic
◦ The Symptoms of Alcoholism
◦ Basic Facts About Alcoholism
◦ Hard Facts About Alcoholism
◦ Cautions Concerning Non Alcoholic Beer
◦ The College Campus And Alcoholism
◦ Dangers of Alcoholism
◦ Alcoholics Anonymous Steps 1-6
◦ Alcoholics Anonymous Steps 6-12
◦ What Causes An Alcoholic Blackout
◦ New Shot to Treat Alcoholism
◦ Alcoholism's Physical Effects
◦ Group Support For Alcoholism
◦ Threats From Alcoholism
◦ The Truth About Alcoholism
◦ Treating The Three Main Issues In Alcoholism
◦ Treatments for Alcoholism
◦ Vitamins and Supplements For The Alcoholic
◦ Recovering From Alcoholism
◦ Help Your Teen Avoid Becoming An Alcoholic
◦ What Is Alcholism
◦ Family Members Drinking Too Much
◦ Explain Alcoholism
◦ Who Are The Alcoholics
◦ Women Fighting The Consequences of Alcoholism
◦ Al Anon Support For The Alcoholic's Family
◦ Health Consequences Of Alcoholism
◦ Medications Used For Treating Alcoholism
◦ Screening Tests For Alcoholism
◦ What Is The Difference Between Alcohol Abuse And Alcoholism
◦ What the Bible Says About Alcohol Abuse
◦ How to Stop Drinking Alcohol without AA
◦ The Truth About Alcoholics Anonymous
◦ Alcoholism - Curable or Just Controllable
◦ The Causes of Alcoholism
◦ So How Much Drinking Really Is Too Much?
◦ Is Alcoholism Hereditary
◦ What Children Need to Know About Alcohol
◦ How to Recognize When Children are Drinking
◦ What You Need to Know about how to Set Up an Intervention for an Alcoholic
◦ How to Quit Drinking Without Gaining Weight