Alcoholism

Alcohol is the most popular drug in the world. For thousands of years,alcohol has been used and as long as there has been alcohol,there has been abuse of this drug.

There is no system or organ in the body that does not take a health hazard as a result of excessive alcohol consumption. The physical damage caused by alcohol can and does cause misery, illness and death.

According to WHO, it is estimated that more than two millions people each year die due to drinking of alcohol.

Alcohol poisoning is a serious and potentially lethal result from consuming a lot of alcohol in a short amount of time.

Young adults and college students are more likely to become the victims of alcohol poisoning,an alcohol overdose can happen to anyone who drinks too much.

Binge drinking and continued alcohol use in large amounts are associated with many health problems. These include high blood pressure,stroke ,heart related disease, liver damage, nerve damage, inflammation of stomach, permanent damage to the brain, malnutrition and cancer of the mouth and throat.

Memory loss is one of the most common symptoms associated with brain impairment due to alcohol.

Liver damage is due to heavy drinking. The liver is a vital organ. On overdose and long term drinking, cirrhosis of liver can be happens. Before a liver reach the point of being cirrhotic,it may be fatty or inflammed. The first stage of damage is a fatty liver,a build- up extra fat in the cells.

This can cause fatigue, weakness and weight loss. If a person stop drinking, the condition can be reversed.

A person who consume alcohol daily as a overdose having problems of cerebellar degeneration, neuropathy, leukemia, gastrointestinal problems as pancreatitis, gastritis,folate deficiency, cirrhosis, testicular atrophy etc.

Ataxia, incoordination , confusion,coma and even death can occur at progressively higher blood alcohol levels.

Signs of alcohol withdrawal may include shaking, sweating, hypertension, tachycardia, insomnia and anxiety etc.

Psychotic symptoms can include visual,auditory and olfactory hallucinations. Seizure can occur.

Lab investigation

Blood test, GI endoscopy or radiology,Liver spleen scan, abdominal ultrasound or CT ,liver biopsy,EEG, ECG, and cranial CT. may show evidence of alcohol related organ dysfunction.

Alcoholism or alcohol dependence has long been associated with a set of classified symptoms such as experiencing alcohol withdrawal or continuing to drink alcohol even after suffering physical or psychological health problems.

Therapy

Alcohol withdrawal is treated with thiamine ( 50-100mg IV daily for 5 days) , multivitamins,CNS depressant drugs and in some cases anticonvulsants .

Fluid and electrolytes status and blood sugar levels should be closely followed. Care should be taken to searc for evidence of trauma or infections that may be masked by prominent withdrawal symptoms.

Treatment of chronic alcoholism depends on recognition of the problems by patients.

Rehabilitation programs and support groups may be helpful.

So, it is my advise that we should avoid alcohol.

Dr S.K.jha