Nine Specific Health Risks from Alcohol Abuse Named

The prevalence of alcohol intake isn’t surprising nowadays. It’s already a part of society’s way of living. People drink fo various reasons such as to form ties with co-workers and friends. Others do it as a way to past time, while others drink to celebrate. Many diverse types of alcohol are as available as conventional water. The catch, though, is that too much consumption may lead to alcoholism or alcohol addiction.

Although it’s no secret that alcohol intake poses health risks to the human body, it is essential to specify the consequences to alcohol-dependent individual. Habitual intake of alcohol should be understood as lessening life.  It cuts years off of your life.  As a call and campaign against alcoholism, let us try to explore the danger it brings hoping to awaken people to drinking alcohol in moderation. 

“Alcoholism is a devastating, potentially fatal disease. The primary symptom of having it is telling everyone–including yourself–that you are not an alcoholic.” – HERBERT L. GRAVITZ & JULIE D. BOWDEN (Recovery: A Guide for Adult Children of Alcoholics)

Cardiomyopathy.

Heavy drinkers must be wary of this common illness attributed to alcohol indulgence. Alcohol causes the weakening of the heart to the point of failing to do its role. The heart may behave in an abnormal manner affecting its normal rhythm. Ventricular and atrial fibrillation which will take effect as uncontrolled twitching will most likely trigger stroke or sudden death.

Cancer.

Several types of cancer are related to alcohol addiction, namely of the liver, breast, esophagus, pharynx and larynx as well as of the mouth. How does alcohol trigger cancer? The risk gets in when the human body converts alcohol into a potent carcinogen known Acetaldehyde. Thus, heavy and consistent drinking may result in this terrible illness.

Status Epilepticus.

This is a form of epilepsy where one gets a life-threatening condition of acute and prolonged epileptic seizures. Excessive alcohol drinking could result in this complication. 

Infections.

Heavy and habitual drinking of alcohol weakens the immune system. At the stage where the immune system is too weak to fight off diseases, one becomes prone to infections such as tuberculosis. One may also contract STDs and Human Immunodeficiency Diseases (HIV) due to poor judgment when drunk.

Symptoms of anemia include shortness of breath, fatigue, and lightheadedness. Excessive alcohol in your body causes a low red blood cell count, which is a prime requirement for the correct functioning of the hematologic system.

Dementia.

Short-term memory loss or Korsaff’s syndrome gradually develops, especially among alcoholic persons. This results in poor judgment. As they say, alcohol makes you forget things for the time being. However, excessive alcohol intake can lead to you forgetting not only for the time being but maybe all the time at the illness’ onset.

“Because alcohol is encouraged by our culture, we get the idea that it isn’t dangerous. However, alcohol is the most potent and most toxic of the legal psychoactive drugs.” – BEVERLY A. POTTER & SEBASTIAN ORFALI (Brain Boosters)

Cerebellar Degeneration.

Brain cerebellum is responsible for the balance and coordination of the body. Alcohol damages that part of the brain. Alcohol consumption could lead to this complication, resulting in jerky movements of the arms or legs, unsteady walk, nystagmus or rapid eye movements and even slurred speech. You wouldn’t want these symptoms, would you?

Nerve Damage or Alcoholic Neuropathy.

This condition involves muscle weakness in the extremities, numbness, and tingling pain, loss of control over your bladder and bowel, diarrhea and constipation and even intimate dysfunction. Most likely, poor nutrition will further and double the possibility of this illness occurring in an alcoholic person.

Gout.

This is a type of arthritis that results from the accumulations of uric acid crystals in the joints. The condition is most likely to exhibit more in men than in women. Gout is most likely triggered by beer rather than by other kinds of alcohol. This condition is rather painful as it causes a lot of agony to the victim.