Alcoholism is a disease that will last the lifetime of an alcoholic. The consequences of alcoholism should be taken very seriously because many people die of this disease.
"Premature aging of the skin is a physical effect of alcoholism, as well as various problems with the nerves, neuropathies, liver problems, jaundice, and pancreas problems," says Dr. Ally Bloom, a medical director and owner of Pasadena Recovery Center. He is psychiatrist with four years experience in treating alcoholism. "Some people destroy their pancreas and actually get diabetes as a result of their inflammation of the pancreas and destruction of the so called islets of Langerhans."
Other effects of alcoholism are increased risk of cancers of the liver, esophagus, throat and larynx. Immune system problems and brain damage are common consequences of years of abusing alcohol. Alcohol irritates the liver, causing inflammation and then scarring. Cirrhosis is scarring with pieces of the various glands of the liver developing into fibrous tissue, which remains ineffective in processing the multiple hundreds of things that the liver does to maintain the body's stability.
"Effects include various palsies, shaking and of course all the dangers related to automobile accidents," says Bloom. "Over half of all the fatalities in the country in automobiles have alcohol related causes. There are many people who fall in their home and kill themselves banging their heads on tables, couches and coffee tables."
Women who are pregnant and drink harm the fetus. This is called Fetal Alcohol Syndrome and it may impact the child's brain, resulting in learning and behavior problems. FAS is a syndrome in which the baby has physical deformities based upon swimming in a womb infected with alcohol. According to Bupa, a website providing information on alcoholism, a baby can suffer from nervous system problems, lowered intelligence, and facial abnormalities. If the baby was exposed to heavy drinking during the pregnancy, more than likely it is born addicted to alcohol. If a pregnant woman drinks more than 10 drinks a week, more than likely the baby will be underweight when born. There is not a safe limit for drinking during pregnancy, so alcohol should be avoided all together.
For men they can lose the ability to function sexually, meaning they can experience the loss of erectile function, leading to impotence.
"Shakespeare said that alcohol in a male increases desire but decreases the performance," Bloom said. "You can be so drunk that you can't really have sex, so drinking has a lot to do with sexual issues."
Children of alcoholic parents have a 25% chance of becoming alcoholics. If two parents are alcoholics, the chance rises to 50%. Alcoholism should be taken very seriously and an alcoholic should receive treatment as soon as possible.
