The Biological Effects of Alcoholism

Much is written about alcoholism (alcohol addiction) and how alcoholism affects a person’s mental status, job performance, personal relationships, and mood. We also hear many stories about what happens to a person’s behavior when he becomes intoxicated, from driving under the influence to being involved in rowdy bar fights.

However, it would be dangerous to lose sight of the fact that the alcohol in alcoholic beverages is ethanol (grain alcohol), the same substance that can power cars. Alcohol is toxic to the human body and, if one ingests enough alcohol, can even be deadly. Alcohol can kill quickly, as with alcohol poisoning, or over the course of many years, as with cirrhosis. Only a chronic alcoholic who is blessed with incredibly good genes will avoid having health problems from alcohol abuse at some point in their lifetimes.

The Dangers of an Alcoholic Mother

When you hear the words “alcoholic mother,” you already have a mental image that’s disconcerting and confusing. It’s actually a dichotomy. Mothers are supposed to be nurturing, caring individuals, not falling-down drunks. How can the two possibly go together? The sad reality is that alcoholism knows no gender boundaries, nor does it pay heed to age, race, nationality, religious persuasion, sexual orientation or socioeconomic status. A woman can, therefore, be an alcoholic and a mother at the same time. There are a host of dangers in being an alcoholic mother. Let’s look at some of them.

Long-Term Alcoholism Affects Sleep, Even after Periods of Abstinence

It’s well known that drinking alcohol before going to bed affects sleep patterns, restricting the REM cycle of sleep, making people feel less rested after waking up. But a new study shows that sleep can be affected by alcoholism even after long periods of abstinence, and that both women and men can be affected.

Alcohol Tolerance “Switch” Discovered

Researchers at North Carolina State University have found a genetic "switch" in fruit flies that plays an important role in making flies more tolerant to alcohol. This metabolic switch also has implications for the deadly liver disease cirrhosis in humans.

Why Seizures Occur with Alcohol Withdrawal

When a person abruptly stops a long-term or chronic drinking habit, he or she will most likely suffer from alcohol withdrawal syndrome, which can include epileptic seizures.

Long-Term Alcoholism Greatly Impacts Quality of Sleep

Sleep is an important part of everyday health and a lack of sleep can lead to a variety of problems. According to a recent study, alcoholism over the long-term affects sleep even after long periods of abstinence. The impact is similar in both men and women.

High-Functioning Alcoholics: Suffering in Silence

Most of us don’t think of doctors, lawyers, psychologists, and professors as likely alcoholics, but as many of half of all alcoholics are high-functioning types with respectable, stable, and high-paying jobs. High-functioning alcoholics are usually able to balance their home and family lives with work and other responsibilities, all the while suffering from alcoholism and putting themselves and those around them in danger.

The Serious Health Risks of Alcohol

It’s well known that alcoholism can cause cirrhosis of the liver, but many people might not know that chronic alcohol abuse is also highly associated with many different types of cancer, including cancer of the colon, larynx (voice box), liver, rectum, throat, kidneys, and esophagus. Other problems can include pancreatitis (which can lead to pancreatic cancer), hepatitis, cardiovascular disease, epilepsy, alcoholic dementia, heart disease, nutritional deficiencies, sexual dysfunction, and death.

Alcohol is Important Risk Factor for Bowel Cancer

Researchers have found that people who consume more than 7 drinks per week have a 60 percent greater risk of developing bowel cancer, compared with non-drinkers. The study also found that smoking, obesity, and diabetes produce a 20 percent greater risk of developing the cancer—the same risk associated with eating high quantities of red and processed meat.

Heavy Drinking Can Lead to Dementia

It’s common knowledge that alcohol kills brain cells, but a new study suggests that the effects may be worse than originally thought. Researchers in England suggest that heavy drinking may cause one in four cases of dementia, and that serious drinkers may begin having memory loss problems in their 40s, which will only increase with age. In addition, women are at an even greater risk, as they are “physiologically less able to cope with alcohol’s effects,” according to the report published in the journal Alcohol and Alcoholism.