Causes, Risky Elements, And Unhealthy Signs Of Alcoholism

^{Photo by Polina Tankilevitch}

Dealing with an alcoholic person is a huge problem. Several aspects are affected, like relationships, finances, and reputation. But the most significant risk will always involve health.

Alcoholism, as a term, is often used to describe several issues related to drinking alcohol. It is primarily defined as something akin to someone who couldn’t live without alcohol—alcoholism results in uncontrollable and persistent situations which are harmful to oneself and other people. If a person keeps going, the body will eventually become ill, and the domino effect of this substance abuse will span the individual’s relationships with family and friends. You can spare an alcoholic family member or anyone you care about if there is a way to inform them how alcohol addiction can be bad for their bodies. Being in love with an alcoholic loved one is never easy.

What Causes Alcoholism?

There are two categories as to why alcoholism happens. It stems from both genetic and environmental factors. Your genes might contribute to your liver’s capacity to metabolize any drink, ultimately detrimental to your health once you start drinking alcohol. If your family has a history of alcohol abuse, there is a higher chance that the rest may get it. People with genetic factors tend to begin drinking early on in life. Eventually, diseases catch up to them, and they can stay hidden until there are alcoholic triggers.

On the other hand, alcoholism, rooted in environmental cases, is usually evident in people who hardly get any form of support from family and friends. They have a higher likelihood of developing alcoholism. A person’s social and emotional influence can lead to a dangerous life of alcoholism that requires significant intervention to prevent relapse. Sobriety can be difficult to achieve, depending on the alcoholic who wants to take the road to recovery.

People drink due to stress and emotional burdens. It is a means to momentarily escape and be numb from the cruel realities of life. Too much of it can induce stress, anxiety, and depression, even if it means drinking to get away from it all. Chemical imbalances, including social and cultural pressures, influence a person’s drinking habits.

Alcoholism’s Impact In Terms Of Health

Alcohol abuse is considered a disorder due to its intense psychological hold on the person. The human body’s vital organs will end up damaged, especially the liver, which is in charge of filtering the toxins from the body, including alcohol.

Excessive alcohol consumption can lead to a slew of diseases, including cancer. Alcohol-related cancers usually come from alcoholic drinks that turn into acetaldehyde, a potent carcinogen. If paired with smoking, the body hosts numerous cancer cells and boosts their reproduction. Another effect of alcohol abuse is neuropsychiatric or cognitive disorders. The levels of toxic amino acids in the blood shoot up because of uninhibited drinking. This is probably the cause of withdrawal seizures among many individuals. A night of continuous drinking undoubtedly impairs the senses, but doing it long-term can permanently damage the brain and cause brain lesions.

The heart is not spared from the jarring effects of excessive alcohol consumption. Heart attacks and strokes happen due to alcohol abuse. Moderately drinking will help minimize those risks.

The Effects Of Alcohol On The Liver

Now let’s discuss in detail how alcoholism eventually destroys the liver. Once the organ absorbs the alcohol, breaking them down will take a while. This also leads to creating even more dangerous substances than pure alcohol. They can cause severe liver illnesses due to liver damage.

These are the following liver diseases caused by alcohol:

• Steatosis – fatty liver
• Hepatitis – liver inflammation
• Acute Alcoholic Hepatitis
• Cirrhosis – liver scarring
• Liver failure

Preventing Further Risk

For the liver to not get damaged by alcohol abuse, cutting down or completely giving up is the only way. By entirely avoiding a drink, there is a greater chance for improvement. A healthier lifestyle that includes an alcohol-free diet will always be the best way to prevent or lessen the damage of alcohol-caused liver diseases. But if you are a person who has pre-existing liver scarring, avoid drinking alcohol at all costs.

If you want to live longer, stopping is the only solution. In terms of living a healthy lifestyle, maintaining a healthy weight by regularly exercising is one of the factors. It would be best to also not to attempt smoking at all. Not consuming processed food and eating a nutritious diet will help improve your liver’s condition. If you have low levels of vitamin D, you need to catch some sunlight often.