For more than a few years alcohol dependency exploration has revealed the fact that there is strong relationship between alcohol addiction and critical health conditions.
For instance, in 2005, medical research and alcohol abuse and alcoholism statistics demonstrated the fact that that alcohol abuse and alcohol addiction cost the United States an estimated $220 billion on an annual basis. Interestingly, this considerable alcohol-related expenditure was significantly more than the cost associated with cancer ($196 billion) or with obesity ($133 billion). While it is relevant to underline these facts, it is also noteworthy to emphasize the point that an interrelationship exists between all three of these health issues.
That is to say, chronic alcohol abuse and alcohol dependency are also highly interrelated with obesity and with cancer.
Without a doubt, substance abuse exploration has revealed that alcohol dependency can augment the risk for various kinds of cancer, particularly cancer of the liver, voice box (larynx), kidneys, colon, esophagus, rectum, and the throat. Excessive and recurring drinking can also lead to immune system issues and injury to the fetus during pregnancy.
Heavy and Abusive Drinking Enfeebles the Problem Drinker’s Organs and Systems
Additionally, if alcohol addiction continues over a period of years, the individual’s body organs will probably be affected in a harmful manner. For example, chronic, hazardous drinking is especially harmful to the liver due to the fact that the liver does most of the work of processing the alcohol that has been ingested. Excessive amounts of alcohol kills liver cells and eradicates the ability of liver cells to redevelop. This medical condition leads to a progressive inflammatory injury to the liver that can in the end lead to cirrhosis of the liver, a serious and possibly lethal medical problem.Heavy, long-term drinking not only can lead to acute liver damage, but it can also lead to damage to the heart and to the brain. Physical damage this severe may be irreparable and may, in turn, lead to serious illness or an early death.
The Critical Nature of Alcohol Treatment
It is critical, consequently, to know how to recognize the different alcoholism symptoms and the “alcohol signs” so that the alcohol dependent person can be given the opportunity to get the professional alcohol treatment he or she requires.
Alcohol Dependency and Sophisticated Brain Exploration
Fortunately, medical exploration is relentlessly generating unique and significant information. Recent alcoholism research offers an excellent example. More specifically, for approximately the past ten years, technologically advanced brain-imaging scanning instruments have shown that repetitive and chronic abusive drinking alters the configuration of the brain to a significant extent, as a consequence resulting in brain disease that can last months, years, or conceivably as long as the person lives.
More to the point, medical examination has revealed that people who have been drinking in a hazardous manner for a substantial length of time increase their risk for developing long lasting and significant alterations in the brain.
This type of damage may be indirectly associated with the drinker’s poor overall health or directly related to the alcohol’s effects on the brain or to severe liver disease.
Mental Disorders, Malnutrition, and Abusive Drinking
As a final illustration of diverse medical conditions that are significantly correlated to alcohol dependency, consider that in accordance with medical investigation, the excessive and repeated abuse of alcohol can lead to erosive gastritis, a health problem that limits the absorption of nutrients, vitamins, and minerals.
This form of organ failure is associated with malnutrition and to an array of critical neurological and mental syndromes including sleep disturbances, memory loss, and psychosis such as Wernicke’s Encephalopathy and Korsakoff’s syndrome. This latter medical problem is a long-term debilitating condition that is typified by continual learning and memory problems.
Summary
It is clear that continued, abusive drinking is directly or indirectly associated with many acute medical conditions that can and do lead to serious diseases and premature death. Such information needs to be stressed and presented to everyone in our society so that a massive amount of individuals will be able to abstain from abusive drinking while other individuals who have a drinking problem will get the quality rehab they need.
