Alcohol related disease is a very real threat for those who abuse alcohol.While the debate continues to rage over how much alcohol consumption is good vs. how much is bad, few topics have been studied more thoroughly or for a longer period of time. So what’s the difference between substance abuse and addiction? We all know someone who indulges in a glass or two of wine at certain intervals and we also know people who enjoy a cold beer after a hard day’s work. Taken in moderation, a drink or two occasionally seems to be o.k., at least in the eyes of researches. However, 1-2 drinks a week is a far cry from a bottle of wine or a six pack of beer at every sitting. As the consumption rate increases, so too does the propensity for the development of health complications. In some cases, the consequences can be severe. Confusion in certain studies comes from examining the daily habits of hardcore drinkers who tend to lead an unhealthy lifestyle. Some of these people have extremely poor diet, don’t exercise and aren’t getting proper nutrition. These people might be predisposed to suffering from health complications, but most of the studies have looked at a large enough sampling group to develop some significant evidence to support their theories that excessive alcohol consumption can be dangerous. Understanding how to help an alcoholic is as important as knowing how to recognize when someone is suffering from an addiction problem. While there are many diseases that are considered alcohol related disease, we have identified the six alcohol related diseases that can be life-threatening:
1. Heart attack and stroke
Drinking in moderation has been found to help those who have suffered a heart attack survive it. However, excessive alcohol consumption leads to an increased risk of heart failure. A review of the literature found that half a drink of alcohol offered the best level of protection. However, they noted that at present there have been no randomized trials to confirm the evidence which suggests a protective role of low doses of alcohol against heart attacks. However, moderate alcohol consumption is associated with hypertension. There is an increased risk of hypertriglyceridemia, cardiomyopathy, hypertension, and stroke if three or more standard drinks of alcohol are taken per day.
2. Alcohol Related Liver disease
Alcoholic liver disease is a major public health problem. For example, in the United States up to two million people have alcohol-related liver disorders. Chronic alcohol abuse can cause fatty liver, cirrhosis and alcoholic hepatitis. Treatment options are limited and consist of most importantly discontinuing alcohol consumption. In cases of severe liver disease, the only treatment option may be a liver transplant from alcohol abstinent donors. Research is being conducted into the effectiveness of anti-TNFs. Certain complementary medications, e.g., milk thistle and silymarin, appear to offer some benefit. Alcohol is a leading cause of liver cancer in the Western world, accounting for 32-45% of hepatic cancers. Up to half a million people in the United States develop alcohol-related liver cancer. Moderate alcohol consumption also increases the risk of liver disease.
3. Pancreatitis
Studies have shown that alcohol abuse is a leading cause of both acute pancreatitis and chronic pancreatitis. Alcoholic pancreatitis is the nasty side effect of severe abdominal pain and may progress to pancreatic cancer. Chronic pancreatitis often results in intestinal malabsorption, and if left untreated, can result in diabetes. As an alcohol related disease, this one is especially difficult to deal with.
4. Cancer
In 2006, a study suggested that “3.6% of all cancer cases worldwide are related to alcohol drinking, resulting in 3.5% of all cancer deaths.” Another study carried out in Europe in 2011 found that one in 10 of all cancers in men and one in 33 in women were caused by previous or current alcohol consumption. The World Cancer Research Fund panel report Food, Nutrition, Physical Activity and the Prevention of Cancer: a Global Perspective found evidence “convincing” them that alcoholic drinks increase the risk of the following cancers: mouth, pharynx and larynx, oesophagus, colorectum (men), breast (pre- and postmenopause). Acetaldehyde, which is a metabolic product of alcohol, is suspected to promote cancer. Typically, the liver eliminates 99% of the acetaldehyde produced by alcohol. However, liver disease and certain genetic enzyme deficiencies can result in high acetaldehyde levels. Heavy drinkers who are exposed to these higher levels of acetaldehyde because of an existing genetic defect in alcohol dehydrogenase have been found to be at even greater risk of developing cancers of the upper gastrointestinal tract and liver. Most people don’t associate cancer as an alcohol related disease, but the study shows that it is.
5. Diabetes mellitus
Because former drinkers may be inspired to abstain due to health concerns, they may actually be at increased risk of developing diabetes. This as known in medical circles as the sick-quitter effect. More importantly, the balance of risk of alcohol consumption on other diseases and health outcomes, even at moderate levels of consumption, may outweigh the positive benefits with regard to diabetes. Further, the way in which alcohol is consumed (i.e., with meals or bingeing on weekends) affects various health outcomes. Binge drinkers tend to lead unhealthy lifestyles with poor nutritional habits, and this behavior just increases the risk.
6. Respiratory system
Chronic alcohol ingestion can impair many important cellular functions inside the lungs. These cellular impairments can lead to increased susceptibility to serious complications from lung disease. Recent research cites alcoholic lung disease as comparable to liver disease in alcohol-related mortality. Alcoholics have a higher risk of developing acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and experience higher rates of mortality from ARDS when compared to non-alcoholics.
Other Dangers
According to the Center For Disease Control, an average of six people die every day of alcohol poisoning, and most are not binge-drinking college students. , In fact, according to the report, 76 percent of them are aged 35 to 64, and three of every four are men. Their deaths are largely tied to binge-drinking, with those episodes averaging a staggering eight drinks per binge. That level of consumption soaks drinkers’ brains in enough alcohol to affect mechanisms that control breathing, heart rate and body temperature, and sometimes causes death, the report found. Some 38 million U.S. adults report binge drinking an average of four times a month, and here the common perception holds that the 18-34 age group has the largest number of binge drinkers, according to a 2012 CDC report. The same report also showed, however, that people over 65 binge drink most often. But when middle-aged people binge, they tend to consume more drinks than their older or younger counterparts, leading to higher death rates, Brewer said. Most binge drinkers are not addicted to or dependent on alcohol, however. “Binge drinking” is defined as five drinks for a man or four for a woman in about two or three hours. A drink can be 12 ounces of beer, eight ounces of malt liquor, five ounces of wine or 1.5 ounces of distilled spirits. Moderate drinking is considered as many as one per day for women and two for men. Binge drinking can lead to alcohol poisoning, a problem made famous by many instances reported on college campuses. Signs of alcohol poisoning include slow or irregular breathing, seizures, hypothermia, vomiting and an inability to wake up. Not long ago, the CDC also reported that one in 10 deaths of working age adults is attributable to “excessive alcohol consumption.” In a study of causes of death and life expectancy, the CDC found that excessive drinking shortened the lives of the people who died by about 30 years each and 71 percent of those who died were men. The study also found that certain ethnic groups were more likely to die from alcohol related issues. 
Collectively, the data paints a clear picture. Abuse of alcohol or consumption beyond a couple of drinks per week is risky behavior. Alcohol related disease is a very real possibility for those who drink more than occasionally and consumption should be limited. The CDC recommends that alcohol be treated as more of a once-in-awhile indulgence rather than a daily occurrence.
If you or someone you know needs help for an alcohol related problem, contact us.
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