Alcohol Abuse Effects - 5 Physical Effects Of Alcohol Abuse
Olinda Rola
Alcohol abuse effects can be far-reaching and devastating. The
effects of alcohol abuse not only have consequences for the
drinker but those around her or him as well. Alcohol abuse
effects can be both psychological and physical. Alcohol
consumption causes changes in behavior. The physical effects of
alcohol abuse can be experienced with as little as one or two
drinks. Impaired judgment and coordination needed to operate a
car safely may result in the drinker having an accident.
Alcoholism is an illness where alcoholic beverage consumption
is at a level that interferes with physical or mental health,
and negatively impacts social, family or occupational
responsibilities. Alcohol abusers are drinkers that may drink
excessively at various times with resulting immediate alcohol
abuse effects at the time of excess alcohol consumption.
The immediate physical effects of alcohol abuse can be
experienced as soon as ten minutes after drinking begins. With
continued alcohol consumption on that occasion, the immediate
effects of alcohol abuse worsen and become more serious.
Here are five of the immediate physical alcohol abuse effects:
1. Inhibitions Become Reduced - at a blood alcohol
concentration of 0.05, changes in a person's behavior begins to
be noticeable. Alcohol abuse effects and reduced inhibitions can
put a person at higher risk for actions they would otherwise
not participate in, such as sexual activity, continued drinking
or illegal drug use.
2. Loss of Muscle Control - at the level of 0.10, slurred
speech will likely be evident. Impaired judgment and poor
coordination are physical effects of alcohol abuse that can
lead to falls and accidents.
3. Memory Loss and/or Blackouts - since alcohol depresses the
brain's control mechanisms, as blood alcohol levels increase,
periods of time and certain situations and events may not be
remembered afterward.
4. Stupor - at a blood alcohol concentration of 0.40, a person
can hardly function, acting seriously dazed and confused.
5. Coma - at a blood alcohol level of 0.50, a person is at risk
for coma, which can be life-threatening. And at this level or
higher, respiratory paralysis and death become very much a
possibility.
Other alcohol abuse effects that are short-term include nausea,
hangovers, headaches and fatigue. The longer a person abuses
alcohol over time, the higher the chances of other alcohol
abuse effects being experienced and alcohol dependency
developing. The most severe form of alcoholism is 'alcohol
dependency'. Physical alcohol dependence is characterized by
withdrawal symptoms when alcohol consumption is interrupted, by
tolerance to the effects of alcohol abuse and by the presence of
alcohol-related illnesses.
Malnutrition can develop from a reduced appetite plus
inadequate absorption of nutrients in the intestinal tract and
from consuming 'empty' calories in alcohol. Calories from
alcohol are called 'empty' calories since alcohol contains no
beneficial nutrients, vitamins or minerals.
And with continued alcohol consumption and abuse over years,
many of the body organs will be affected. Alcohol is especially
harmful to the liver since the liver does most of the work of
breaking down alcohol. Alcohol destroys liver cells, and it
destroys the ability of liver cells to regenerate. This
condition leads to progressive inflammatory injury to the liver
and eventually can result in cirrhosis of the liver.
Additional long term alcohol abuse effects include damage to
the brain, high blood pressure, heart muscle damage, nerve
damage, pancreatitis, bleeding in the esophagus, erectile
dysfunction in men, fetal alcohol syndrome in the offspring of
alcoholic women, insomnia, depression and increased cancer
risks.
If you or someone you know may have problems with alcohol and
you'd like to learn more about alcoholism and perhaps seek
help, there are proven resources available. It is never too
late to begin recovery from alcohol addiction and alcohol abuse
effects.
Copyright 2006 InfoSearch Publishing
About The Author: Read more about alcoholism signs you should
know at
http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com/alcoholism-signs.html -
Olinda Rola is President of InfoSearch Publishing and webmaster
of
http://www.safemenopausesolutions.com - a website of natural
health articles and resources for healthier living.
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