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Excessive and continued alcohol consumption increases the risk for health complications. The effects of alcohol on each individual are different and depend on a number of factors, even when consumed in equal amounts. Furthermore, although the light consumption to moderate alcohol - up to one or two doses per day, respecting at least two days apart in a week and not exceeding this limit - may contribute to the decreased risk of cardiovascular disease, larger amounts can raise this risk.
According to the World Health Organization (WHO), there is no standard of safe and free of alcohol consumption risks. When the alcohol plays an important role in an individual's life, occurring very often and in larger amounts than planned, may be becoming addicted.
See below as alcoholism involves increased risk for many health complications, such as liver disease, gastrointestinal disorders, pancreatitis, peripheral neuropathies, cardiovascular disorders, brain damage, anemia, osteoporosis and cancer. Remember that, for some people, according to age, gender and individual aspects of health, heavy drinking and continued alcohol for many years, even if it is not diagnosed as alcoholism, may be related to these diseases.
Liver Diseases
The consumption of alcohol is metabolized by the liver and therefore this body has great potential to be injured. The alcoholic liver disease is directly influenced by the amount of alcohol consumed and the term use over several years. It is estimated that between 90% and 100% of chronic heavy drinkers develop fatty liver disease (fat accumulation in the liver) as early and still reversible consequence. With the maintenance of consumption, alcohol can cause inflammation of the organ - alcoholic hepatitis. Up to 40% of cases can progress to cirrhosis - irreversible chronic inflammation of the liver that alters their ability to function properly. Symptoms of liver failure, or malfunction of the liver, as náuses and vomiting, decreased appetite, yellowing of the whites of the eyes and skin, and more prone to bleeding, appear only when a major and irreversible damage to the body It has occurred. Already the signs, which can be identified with additional tests such as abnormal liver enzymes, and protein fractions are changed before.
Gastrointestinal problems
Excessive consumption of alcohol can cause damage and inflammation in the digestive tract such as the esophagus and stomach, with bleeding, vomiting and reflux symptoms such as heartburn and pain in the upper abdomen. Furthermore, alcohol interferes with the secretion of gastric juice (gastric secretion in the stomach) and the stomach emptying time, digestion and the intervening risk for developing ulcers.
Pancreatitis
Pancreatitis (inflammation of the pancreas) acute is a severe and often requires the individual to direct the emergency care service to control symptoms such as severe abdominal pain. The repetition of acute pancreatitis frames can lead to chronic pancreatitis with malfunction of pancreatic irreversibly causes other problems for health. Alcohol abuse is a major cause of pancreatitis. In general, it occurs over 5 to 10 years of heavy use and maintained. As a result, it is known that the mortality rate of patients with alcoholic pancreatitis is about 36% higher than for the general population.
Peripheral neuropathy
Approximately 10% of alcoholics develop a decaying part of the operation of the nerves in the feet and hands, resulting in symptoms of numbness, tingling and other changes in sensitivity. Symptoms may improve with abstinence from alcohol.
Heart and vascular problems
Heavy alcohol use increases the release of stress-related hormones that act on the contraction of blood vessels and affect blood pressure and can cause hypertension. In addition, the heavy consumption for prolonged periods of alcohol also leads to increased fraction of harmful cholesterol, triglycerides, and alterations in the functioning of platelets. Therefore, events such as arrhythmias, inflammation of the heart muscle (cardiomyopathy), and acute myocardial infarctions are possible consequences of alcohol consumption. The same logic works for the loss of the heart arteries, coronary calls also exist for arteries of other body organs such as the brain; therefore, the heavy, chronic drinking also increases The risk for cerebral vascular accident
Brain damage
alcohol acts as a central nervous system depressant, interfering directly in brain mechanisms. Its excessive use can cause difficulties in reasoning, as resolution of simple problems, in addition to changing the sense of danger and the behavior. Problems of insomnia and poor sleep quality, with a feeling of sleep "fragmented", are commonly associated with the abusive use of alcoholic beverages. The heavy use and chronic can harm even the balance and motor coordination, due to its toxic effect on the cerebellum, in addition to the decrease of reflections, increasing their likelihood falls. Yet, in individuals alcoholics there is the risk of dementia. Vitamin deficiencies, such as the vitamin B1 (thiamine), contributes to the risk of alcoholic dementia, being serious and irreversible.
Immune dysfunctions
can occur weakening and loss in the functioning of the immune system with heavy use of alcohol, increasing the risk of infections, such as pneumonia and tuberculosis. Such a pattern of alcohol consumption interferes with the white cell count in the blood and change the ability to fight infection. Moreover, during the initial period of alcohol poisoning can occur an inflammatory state, which increases the chance of complications if any accident or injury, or if the individual experiences any pre-existing sickness.
Anemia
Tables of malnutrition related to heavy alcohol use (the chronic use of 4 to 8 doses per day, on average), and for a long time, can occur either by adopting a diet nutritionally poor as by reduced absorption of nutrients in the gastrointestinal tract. A deficiency of vitamin B12 or folic acid, in addition to the toxic effects of alcohol, can lead to anemia macrocítica Megaloblastic or. In this context, the formation of red blood cells is altered, leading to worse functioning and capacity to carry oxygen to the cells of the body.
Osteoporosis
Chronic alcohol consumption over a lifetime can affect bone health, especially in the bone mineralization process, increasing the risk of developing osteoporosis in later life. The great danger of osteoporosis is the increased risk of fractures. It is further known that alcohol can interfere with the metabolic balance of calcium and vitamin D production, which may contribute to bone complications. For women, excessive consumption of alcohol is related to greater increases in bone loss in all ages.
Cancer
Heavy alcohol consumption is associated with several types of cancers such as mouth, esophagus, larynx, stomach, liver, colon, rectum and breast. The causative agents are not all known, but it is known that specifically acetaldehyde - a product of alcohol metabolism - may have carcinogenic effects