It's no secret that overindulgence in alcohol may cause serious heath
problems. Why people continue to harm their bodies with excessive drinking is
unknown. Maybe it's because of peer pressure, a feeling of invincibility, or
dependency issues. Regardless of the reason for excessive alcoholic use,
individuals with a drinking problem must seriously consider the short-term and
long-term risk.
Alcohol Poisoning: Alcoholic beverages contain a substance
called ethanol. This substance can potentially cause damage to the central
nervous system. Those who drink in moderation do not have to concern themselves
with this problem. Ethanol does not affect the body until a person reaches
their tolerance level. When this occurs, a person's brain function slows and
they may begin to giggle uncontrollably or feel sleepy. This is the time to
stop drinking. Those who continue to drink will likely experience slurred
speech, blurred vision, and poor coordination. The body has the ability to
safely dissolve ethanol. However, during extreme drinking binges, the body
cannot work fast enough, which may result in alcohol poisoning, coma, or death.
Prolong alcohol abuse is responsible for brain cell loss, poor memory,
depression, and violent behavior.
Liver Diseases: Alcohol abuse is responsible for the
majority of liver problems. The primary function of the liver is to remove
toxins from the body. Those who consume too many alcoholic beverages are
causing potentially irreversible damage to this vital organ. Ethanol, the
substance found in alcohol must pass through the liver with other toxins.
However, removing excessive amounts of ethanol from the body is a slow process.
Thus, those who abuse alcohol will experience a buildup of fat deposits in
their liver. If not treated, fat deposits will cause inflammation of the liver.
When this occurs, liver cells die. Liver damage is often detected on routine
blood tests. As liver cell death occurs, the cells release enzymes into the
blood stream. The liver has a natural ability to repair itself. Thus, those who
curtail their drinking habits will not sustain any permanent liver damage. On
the other hand, individuals who ignore warning signs and continue to abuse
alcohol will eventually develop cirrhosis, scarring of the liver. This serious
condition cannot be treated. Cirrhosis prevents the liver from functioning
properly and ultimately leads to liver failure. During this final stage, the
liver is unable to adequately fight against certain illness. Thus, the risk of
liver cancer is greatly intensified.
Fetal Alcohol Syndrome: Sadly, some mothers do not heed
their physicians warning to avoid alcohol during pregnancy. When an expecting
mother consumes alcohol, her baby also drinks. During the developmental stages,
the effects of alcohol are life-altering. Irreversible damage to the central
nervous system occurs, brain cells do not develop properly, and so forth. The
results are catastrophic. Fetal alcohol syndrome is responsible for facial
deformities, mental retardation, behavioral problems, hyperactivity, and
development problems. The degree of fetal alcohol syndrome varies. Mothers that
drank prior to learning of their pregnancy may have healthy babies, or babies
with minor learning problems. On the other hand, mothers who drank alcohol
throughout their entire pregnancy may cause permanent damage to their fetus. To
be on the safe side, women who are planning on becoming pregnant should avoid
all alcoholic beverages.