THE EFFECTS OF ALCOHOL

 ALCOHOL’S DAMAGING EFFECTS ON THE BRAIN Difficulty walking, blurred vision, slurred speech, slowed reaction times, impaired memory: Clearly, alcohol affects the brain. Some of these impairments are detectable after only one or two drinks and quickly resolve when drinking stops. On the other hand, a person who drinks heavily over a long period of time may have brain deficits that persist well after he or she achieves sobriety. Exactly how alcohol affects the brain and the likelihood of reversing the impact of heavy drinking on the brain remain hot topics in alcohol research today. We do know that heavy drinking may have extensive and far–reaching effects on the brain, ranging from simple “slips” in memory to permanent and debilitating conditions that require lifetime custodial care. And even moderate drinking leads to short–term impairment, as shown by extensive research on the impact of drinking on driving. A number of factors influence how and to what extent alcohol affects the brain (1), including *. how much and how often a person drinks; *. the age at which he or she first began drinking, and how long he or she has been drinking; *. the person’s age, level of education, gender,genetic background, and family history of alcoholism; *. whether he or she is at risk as a result of prenatal alcohol exposure; and *. his or her general health status. This Alcohol Alert reviews some common disorders associated with alcohol–related brain damage and the people at greatest risk for impairment. It looks at traditional as well as emerging therapies for the treatment and prevention of alcohol–related disorders and includes a brief look at the high–tech tools that are helping scientists to better understand the effects of alcohol on the brain. BLACKOUTS AND MEMORY LAPSES Alcohol can produce detectable impairments in memory after only a few drinks and, as the amount of alcohol increases, so does the degree of impairment. Large quantities of alcohol, especially when consumed quickly and on an empty stomach, can produce a blackout, or an interval of time for which the intoxicated person cannot recall key details of events, or even entire events. Blackouts are much more common among social drinkers than previously assumed and should be viewed as a potential consequence of acute intoxication regardless of age or whether the drinker is clinically dependent on alcohol (2). White and colleagues (3) surveyed772 college undergraduates about their experiences with blackouts and asked, “Have you ever awoken after a night of drinking not able to remember things that you did or places that you went?” Of the students who had ever consumed alcohol, 51 percent reported blacking out at some point in their lives, and 40 percent reported experiencing a blackout in the year before the survey. Of those who reported drinking in the 2 weeks before the survey, 9.4 percent said they blacked out during that time. The students reported learning later that they had participated in a wide range of potentially dangerous events they could not remember, including vandalism,unprotected sex, and driving. JOB ALERT CAPITAL1500naira gives 1.5MILLION! HOW? Make money from internet! Be paid N1,500 for each person you invite to register as Netcontacts online member. To know more, log onto www.netcontacts.com.ng and register for free trial with Invitationcode: 2102256081 Thanks Alcohol is a depressant, which slows down the central nervous system and can cause drowsiness, relieve pain and induce sleep. - Drinker experiences mild euphoria and loss of inhibition as alcohol impairs region of the brain controlling behavior and emotions. Alcohol impairs behavior, judgment, memory, concentration and coordination (shortened attention span, impaired problem solving abilities), as well as inducing extreme mood swings and emotional outbursts. - Alcohol acts as a sedative on the central nervous system, depressing the nerve cells in the brain, dulling, altering and damaging their ability to respond appropriately. Large doses cause sleep, anesthesia, respiratory failure, coma and death. - Impaired or distorted visual ability and hearing (affects ability to distinguish between sounds and perceive the direction they are coming from) ; dulled smell and taste (reducing the desire to eat) and loss of pain perception; altered sense of time and space - Impairs fine motor skills, and slows reactions. - Numbness and tingling in the arms and legs caused by nerve damage from depletion of thiamine (B vitamin); when severe, can damage other nerve endings, causing staggering, etc. (Wernicke's Encephalopathy). - Long term drinking may result in permanentbrain damage (Korsakoff's Syndrome or 'wet brain'), serious mental disorders, and addiction to alcohol. ON THE LUNGS - Lowered resistance to infection. - High amounts of alcohol may cause breathing to stop, then death. ON THE LIVER - Chronic heavy drinking may cause alcoholic hepatitis (inflammation and destruction of liver cells) and then cirrhosis (irreversible lesions, scarring, anddestruction of liver cells). Impairs the liver's ability to remove yellow pigment, and skin appears yellow (jaundice). - Liver damage causes fluid to build in extremities (Edema). - Decreases production of blood-clotting factors; may cause uncontrolled bleeding - Liver accumulates fat which can cause liver failure (“alcoholic fatty liver”), coma and death. REPRODUCTIVE SYSTEM – Male and Female - Sexual functioning can be impaired and deteriorate, resulting in impotence and infertility, sometimes irreversible. Females also have a high risk of developing breast cancer. - In men, may lead to sterility, atrophy of the testes and enlargement of the breasts. - Early menopause and menstrual irregularities are common in women who drink excessively. - Drinking during pregnancy significantly increases chance of delivering a baby with Fetal Alcohol Syndrome; small head, possible brain damage, abnormal facial features, poor muscle tone, speech and sleep disorders, and retarded growth and development.HEART - Weakens the heart muscle and ability to pump blood (Cardiomyopathy). - Abnormal heart signals, irregular heart beat and heart enlargement. - Increases blood pressure, risk of heart attack and stroke. - Inhibits production of both red and white blood cells. MUSCLES Due to lower phosphate, muscles become weaker and atrophy; pain, spasms and tenderness. STOMACH/INTESTINAL/DIGESTIVE - Irritation and damage of esophagus lining, induces severe vomiting, hemorrhaging, pain and difficulty swallowing. Can contribute to throat cancer. - Irritation of stomach lining, can cause peptic ulcers, inflammation, bleeding lesions and cancer. Minute blood loss may deplete the body's iron stores, causing irritability, lack of energy, headaches and dizziness. - The pancreas becomes stressed from having to create insulin to process the sugar present in alcohol. This creates a significant risk of pancreatitis, a chronic inflammation that can be fatal. - rly menopause and menstrual irregularities are common in women who drink excessively. of sugar in alcohol. n severe, - Irritation of the intestinal tract lining and thecolon - Nausea, diarrhea, vomiting, sweating and loss of appetite are common. - Alcohol impairs the small intestine's ability toprocess nutrients and vitamins. - Chronic drinking may result in inflammation,ulcers, and cancers of the intestines and colon. BONES - Alcohol interferes with the body's ability to absorb calcium, resulting in bones being weak,soft, brittle and thinner (Osteoporosis http://alcoholism.about.com/od/health /Effects_of_Alcohol_Health_Effects_of_Alcohol.htm Heavy Drinking Can Contribute to Bone Disease Chronic and heavy drinking can inhibit the formation of new bone cells called osteoblast decreasing bone formation and leading to low bone mass, according to research at the Omaha Veterans Affairs Medical Center. Alcoholics Risk Infection After Heart Surgery Researchers find that long-term alcoholics are four times more likely to develop postoperative infections following elective cardiac surgery than nonalcoholic patients. Alcohol Can Upset Body's 'Biological Clock' The body has more than 100 circadian rhythms that are unique and influence various aspects of body functions, including heart rate, blood pressure, body temperature, hormone levels, pain threshold and even the ability to fight disease. Drinking alcohol can have negative consequences on these biological rhythms, research reveals. Drinking Alcohol Associated with Obesity The body mass index of individuals who drink alcohol may be related to how much,and how often, they drink, according to a new study by researchers at the National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism. Alcohol Can Cause Irregular Heart Beat Alcohol consumption may slightly increase the risk for developing a certain type of irregular heart beat, known as atrial fibrillation, or atrial flutter, according to a Danish study. Alcohol Can Act as a 'Blood Thinner' Researchers have confirmed that drinking even moderate amounts of alcohol can affect blood coagulation -- acting as a"blood thinner"-- which can have both positive and negative health effects. Alcohol and the Liver Alcohol-induced liver disease is a major cause of illness and death in the United States, sometimes it is reversible, others not. Alcohol and Tobacco Extensive research supports the observation that smokers drink and drinkers smoke and the heaviest alcohol consumers are also the heaviest consumers of tobacco. Alcohol and Stress Studying the link between alcohol consumption and stress may further our understanding of drinking behavior. Alcohol Abuse vs. Dependence What is the difference between alcohol abuse and alcohol dependence? Chronic Drinking Increases Stress Harmone Researchers find that long-term chronic drinking produces an increase in cortisol bothduring intoxication and withdrawal which can have health implications for sleep disruption, cognitive deficits, diabetes, and mood disturbances. Chocolate and Craving For years people have claimed to be addicted to chocolate and now there is new scientific evidence that indicates the addictive qualities of the tasty treat. Genetics & Alcohol Liver Disease New research shows that genetic factors may determine those at increased risk of developing liver disease. Moonshine Still Causes Health Problems Moonshine continues to thrive and according to a physician at the University of Virginia Health System, it can cause serious health problems in those who abuse it. Other Problems Accompany Substance Abuse Results of two new studies show that people with substance abuse disorders often have accompanying medical or psychiatric conditions and treatment programs should include medical screening. SAMe and Liver Disease The supplement SAMe, which has been promoted as a treatment for arthritis and depression, may now offer some hope for those who suffer from chronic liver disease. http://pubs.niaaa.nih.gov/publications /aa63/aa63.htm People who have been drinking large amounts of alcohol for long periods of time run the risk of developing serious and persistent changes in the brain. Damage may be a result of the direct effects of alcohol on the brain or may result indirectly, from a poor general health status or from severe liver disease. For example, thiamine deficiency is a common occurrence in people with alcoholism and results from poor overall nutrition. Thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, is an essential nutrient required by all tissues, including the brain.Thiamine is found in foods such as meat and poultry; whole grain cereals; nuts; and dried beans, peas, and soybeans. Many foods in the United States commonly are fortified with thiamine, including breads and cereals. As a result, most people consume sufficient amounts of thiamine in their diets. The typical intake for most Americans is 2 mg/day; the Recommended Daily Allowance is1.2 mg/day for men and1.1 mg/day for women(14). Wernicke–Korsakoff Syndrome Up to 80 percent of alcoholics, however, have a deficiency in thiamine (15), and some of these people will go on to develop serious brain disorders such as Wernicke–Korsakoff syndrome (WKS) (16). WKS is a disease that consists of two separate syndromes, a short–lived and severe condition called Wernicke’s encephalopathy and a long–lasting and debilitating condition known as Korsakoff’s psychosis. The symptoms of Wernicke’s encephalopathy include mental confusion, paralysis of the nerves that move the eyes (i.e., oculomotor disturbances), and difficulty with muscle coordination. For example, patients with Wernicke’s encephalopathy may be too confused to find their way out of a room or may not even be able to walk. Many Wernicke’s encephalopathy patients, however, do not exhibit all three of these signs and symptoms, and clinicians working with alcoholics must be aware that this disordermay be present even if the patient shows only one or two of them. In fact, studies performed after death indicate that many cases of thiamine deficiency–related encephalopathy may not be diagnosed in life because not all the “classic” signs and symptoms were present or recognized.