Physiological effects of alcoholism

¶ … physiological and biological effects of alcoholism on the mind and body of a drinker, in light of medical and factual details. It explains the various health perils susceptible to various organs of the body such as brain, liver and pancreas caused by hard drinking. Detailed analysis with regard to genetics and brain damage at cellular level is discussed addressing the effects of dopamine on the accumbrance. Lastly, alcohol recovery through different chemical detoxification approaches is considered in view of their effectiveness.

PHYSIOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF ALCOHOLISM

Alcoholism is a social vice of enormous gait imputing, $13.5 million per annum in direct treatment costs and $116.7 billion per annum of total costs, in the U.S. (Frey, 1991). 7% of American adults, numbering to a size of 10 million are alcoholics. Thus, alcoholics form a large proportion of patients' population. However, alcoholism is a problem patients usually shy away from. They often seek medical help for some other problems such as palpitations, anxiety, sleep disorders, depression, dyspepsia, nausea, diarrhea, impotence and an anthology of numerous other health problems. According to Dr. William Shoemaker, Professor of Psychiatry at the University of Connecticut Health Center, there are numerous health problems that can arise from alcohol addiction:

Chronic alcoholism is related to liver disease and cirrhosis, which can be fatal. Pancreatic disease also can be life threatening. People may also have cardiovascular complications. It is a number of different things" (Nutrition Health Review, 2003).

Moreover an alcoholic's brain chemistry and even volume differs from that of a non-drinker in many ways. Particularly the effect of alcohol upon the brain cells is by all means profound and appalling.

Effects of Alcohol upon the Brain.

Many of the neurons (brain cells) of a long-time Alcoholic begin to die; consequently their brain is different from a normal brain. Scanning procedures, Computed Tomography (CT) or Positron Emission Tomography (PET) reveal that the total volume of an alcoholic's brain undergoes shrinkage due to permanent and irreplaceable death of cells. Moreover, Alcohol adversely affects different neurotransmitter systems in the brain; in low amounts it upsets the Gamma Amino Butyric Acid or the GABA system. It is noted that this effect is more pronounced in men than in women. Incase of higher levels it affects another common transmitter system called NMDA glutamate. Among chronic drinkers, brain cells and tissues adapt to the alcoholic fluid environments. These adaptations deal with excitement and inhibition control. Conversely, brain becomes behaviorally dependent upon alcohol. Alcohol consumption even in social drinkers results in lesser blood flow into the cerebellum, which is the region on the base of the brain controlling voluntary actions of the body. This explains muscular miss coordination under influence of alcohol. Head trauma during stupor or extreme intoxication may case brain damage. Certain imaging analysis reveal changes in blood flow to the brain and disturbance of other metabolic activities associated with specific sensory, motor or cognitive functions in alcoholics. In a more complex manner, alcohol consumption influences the transmission of signals transferred by excitatory neurotransmitters, particularly dopamine, glutamate and serotonin. The Neurotransmitters responsible of promoting the generation of a new nerve signal are called excitatory neurotransmitters. With the release of dopamine in the nucleus accumbens, the nerve signals send impulses and memories of rewarding effects of alcohol such as its relaxing effect and taste are triggered. This effect stimulates further intake of alcohol for greater "reward." A sip of alcohol enhances neuronal activity in the basal ganglia which is highly correlated to increase in craving. Since alcohol consumption increases dopamine release in that area, the dopamine activation contributes to their reinforcing effects. Stressful situations result in the increased release of hormones called glucocorticoids, especially cortisol. Studies have found that glucocorticoids can increase dopamine release; stress-induced increase in dopamine release may increase sensitivity towards those rewarding effects which may lead to drug abuse. Studies have also discovered that actively drinking alcoholics appear to have an abnormal hormonal response to stress, which also may be passed down to the genes of the offspring of alcoholics who may not be heavy drinkers. Alcoholic effects are more pronounced in adolescents and prenatal alcohol intake may create serious cognitive problems for the unborn child.

Other effects of Alcohol upon the Body.

It is noted that Alcoholics generally suffer from malnutrition since the changes in metabolism brought about by alcohol consumption, prevent proper digestion and absorption of food. Thus alcoholics are often found deficient in proteins and vitamins, particularly vitamin A, accounting to susceptibility for liver disease and other serious alcohol-related disorders in the body. Alcohol breakdown in the liver generates toxins such as acetaldehyde and some highly reactive molecules containing oxygen that can cause serious damages to the liver. These toxins interfere with the metabolism of lipids resulting in the damage of liver cells. Moreover Alcohol interferes with the formation and activity of lysosomes that contain specific enzymes which break down proteins and thus may contribute to protein accumulation in the liver, which can have harmful effects on that organ. Pancreatic cancer, which is the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths in the United States risks increase with chronic pancreatitis, excess alcohol consumption. In turn, pancreatitis which is the inflammation of pancreas may be caused due to excessive alcohol intake. (Reid, 1996).

Both long-term and short-term drinking may result into numerous other health problems of which the most notable are liver disease, impaired heart function, inflammation in pancreas; furthermore too much alcohol consumption can harm the fetus of a pregnant woman and lead to various fetal abnormalities.

Conclusion

Alcohol being a social mark up is unavoidable. However, alcohol treatment is possible through the process of detoxification administered via nutrition and chemical medication. Rehabilitation centers provide psychological counseling and appropriate support to the alcoholics with proper therapies and medications.

Detoxification (or detox) is the process by which a person attempts to rid their body of harmful and addictive substances, usually alcohol or drugs. A detox program should only be initiated under the care of a physician or other trained professional." (Medhelp online). Conversely, detoxification is a general removal of toxic substances in the body. It is a form of drug rehabilitation used in alcoholism treatment procedures involving social psychological and physiological changes. Detox programs are important for neutralizing and eliminating the harmful effects of alcohol.