For several years alcohol addiction exploration has demonstrated the fact that there is strong correlation between alcohol dependency and life-threatening health conditions and mental health issues such as depression.
As an illustration, in 2005, scientific exploration and alcohol abuse and alcoholism statistics showed that alcohol abuse and alcoholism cost the United States an estimated $220 billion on an annual basis. Interestingly, this massive alcohol-related cash outlay was substantially more than the cost linked with cancer ($196 billion) or with obesity ($133 billion). While it is important to highlight these facts, it is also noteworthy to emphasize the point that an interrelationship exists between all three of these health conditions.
More to the point, chronic alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction are also highly interrelated with obesity and with cancer.
Undeniably, substance abuse examination has revealed that alcoholism can boost the risk for various kinds of cancer, especially cancer of the voice box (larynx), esophagus, liver, rectum, colon, kidneys, and throat. Hazardous and recurring drinking can also lead to immune system issues and injury to the fetus during pregnancy.
Excessive Drinking Deteriorates the Individual’s Organs and Systems
Furthermore, if alcohol dependency continues over a period of years, the person’s body organs will more likely than not be affected in an unsafe manner. For example, long-term, excessive drinking is particularly injurious to the liver due to the fact that the liver does most of the work of processing the alcohol that has been consumed. Excessive amounts of alcohol kills liver cells and obliterates the ability of liver cells to reproduce. This condition leads to a progressive inflammatory malfunction of the liver that can at the end of the day lead to cirrhosis of the liver, a dangerous and potentially terminal disease. Abusive, long-term drinking not only can result in critical liver damage, but it can also lead to damage to the heart and to the brain. Physical damage this dangerous may be irreversible and may, in turn, result in severe illness or an early death.
The Significance of Alcohol Therapy
It is critical, as a result, to know how to recognize the different alcoholism symptoms and the “alcohol signs” so that the alcohol addicted person can be given the opportunity to seek the quality alcohol rehab he or she needs.
Alcohol Addiction and Technologically Advanced Brain Exploration
Fortuitously, medical investigation is constantly unearthing original and important information. Recent alcoholism research provides a high-quality illustration. More accurately, for roughly the past ten years, complicated brain-imaging scanning devices have shown that repetitive and recurring abusive drinking modifies the constitution of the brain to a substantial extent, consequently resulting in brain disease that can last months, years, or perhaps as long as the person exists.
More explicitly, medical exploration has shown that people who have been drinking abusively for a considerable length of time increase their risk for developing long-term and severe transformations in the brain.
This type of damage may be directly related to severe liver disease, to the alcohol’s effects on the brain, or might be indirectly associated with the drinker’s poor overall health.
Malnutrition, Hazardous Drinking, and Mental Disorders
As a final illustration of diverse health problems that are to a large extent correlated to alcoholism, take into consideration the fact that according to medical exploration, the abusive and repeated abuse of alcohol can lead to erosive gastritis, a medical problem that diminishes the absorption of minerals, nutrients, and vitamins.
This form of organ malfunctioning is correlated with malnutrition and to an assortment of critical mental and neurological disorders including sleep disturbances, memory loss, and psychosis such as Wernicke’s Encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s syndrome. This latter medical problem is a long lasting debilitating health problem that is characterized by continual memory and learning complications.
Thoughtless Drinking Also Leads to in Friendship and Relationship Difficulties
In addition to major health problems, irresponsible and hazardous drinking also leads to relationship and friendship problems. For example, people who involve themselves in heavy drinking often experience affairs, sexuality issues, divorce, and marital difficulties. In these circumstances instances it is important for the person to get alcohol counseling so he or she can enhance his or her loving relationships and friendships.
Summary: The Relevance of Education
It is obvious that repetitive, hazardous drinking is directly or indirectly correlated with a number of serious medical conditions that can and do result in dangerous diseases and premature death. Such information needs to be stressed and presented to everyone in our society, especially to all students, so that most people will be able to refrain from irresponsible drinking while other individuals who have a drinking problem will get the professional rehabilitation they need.
Let us look at this logically. Yes, alcohol rehabilitation is important, but alcohol therapy is something that is usually done AFTER the fact. Education, from a different vantage point, is something that is done BEFORE the problem becomes obvious. Stated a different way, whereas alcohol rehabilitation is “reactive,” education is “proactive.” It is stressed that both approaches are required when discussing alcohol abuse and alcoholism.
Tags: alcoholism, Love, relationships, self improvement