Short – term effects of AlcoholAlcohol is rapidly absorbed in the body tissues as it does not need to be digested. It gets absorbed through the lining of the stomach and intestine and enters the blood within two minutes after being swallowed. In no time alcohol reaches all the body cells. In the cells, its oxidation begins immediately. As the cells oxidize alcohol, a large amount of heat is produced. This excess heat, not needed by the body is carried by the blood. This raises the temperature of blood and leads to increased circulation towards the skin for dissipation of heat. The skin turns rosy and the person may gets a false impression of warmth. Actually as the blood is directed towards the skin, the supply of blood to internal organs is reduced bringing a fall in their temperature. Alcohol has no value as a food as the energy released is not used in any life processes.
Long – term effects of Alcohol
Alcohol is an intoxicant and the person under its influence suffers from loss of judgement and self – control. Alcohol not only affects the individual himself but also his family and society.
Effects of Alcohol on an Individual
Effect on Central nervous system: Alcohol is a depressant and not a stimulator as many people think. Alcohol has an anaesthetic effect and releases inhibitions. Alcohol first affects the brain cortex and the person is no longer able to think clearly and judge good or bad. He suffers from loss of judgement and will power. The person may feel less inhibited. His normal restraints disappear and he loses self – control. As alcohol takes its effects, the vision gets distorted. The person may have a blurred or double vision. As alcohol reaches the cerebellum, the muscular control begins to disappear. The person is unable to walk in a straight line and walks in a clumsy gait. He becomes dizzy while standing and has a tendency to fall. Excessive intake of alcohol decreases the blood sugar level and may cause permanent damage to nerve cells.
Effects on Liver: Liver is the organ that gets most affected and damaged by excessive drinking of alcohol. In the liver, alcohol is converted into a more toxic substance, acetaldehyde. Also, liver synthesizes fats from alcohol. The fat lowers the production of metabolism of fat, protein and carbohydrates; it becomes a store house for fat. It leads to swelling of liver and a condition called fatty liver syndrome (75% of alcoholics suffers from this syndrome). Continued use of alcohol leads to serious degeneration of liver called cirrhosis. In this disease the fatty liver shrinks and hardens as liver cells are replaced by fibrous tissue.
Effects on Stomach: Stomach is another organ affected severely by excessive drinking alcohol. In the stomach, alcohol causes an increased flow of gastric juices. High doses of alcohol (more so if taken empty stomach) lead to painful inflammation of the stomach lining called gastritis.
Effects on Kidneys: The oxidation of alcohol in the cells produces water. This excess water is excreted in large amounts by the skin during heat elimination. But this leads to dehydration of tissues and greater concentration of nitrogenous wastes in the kidneys. Alcohol affects the normal elimination of wastes by kidneys.
Effects on other Body Organs: Cells oxidize most of the alcohol taken in but the rest is removed in a variety of ways. A part of alcohol is released in the lungs and is removed along with exhaled air. It gives an alcoholic a typical alcoholic breath odour. A small part of alcohol passes out into the kidneys and is eliminated in urine.
Alcohol Psychosis: In certain cases (about one in ten) alcoholism leads to a mental disorder called alcohol psychosis. Such people need the professional help of the doctors and psychiatrists and must be admitted in the mental hospital.
Symptoms of Alcohol Psychosis
Excessive intake of alcohol affects the nervous tissue. There is general deterioration of parts of brain. Often alcoholics starve themselves for long periods during drinking alcohol. The disease gets aggravated with the deficiency of complex vitamins necessary for normal nervous activity. The person suffering from alcoholic psychosis shows a confused personality. He is in a state of delirium and does not know who he is. The person suffers from hallucinations involving visual horror. As a result he may show uncontrolled trembling called delirium tremens (or D.T.'S). He may also suffer from the memory loss of recent events. The disorder can be treated only under medical supervision that needs the professional help of psychotherapists, doctors and dieticians.
Effects of Alcohol on the Family
An alcoholic neglects his family. Once addicted an alcoholic wants to have a drink alcohol, even if there is not enough money for food in the house. Even well-to-do families break and get ruined by alcohol drinking. The alcoholic does not care about the needs of his family members, his motto is to satisfy his own desire of drinking. It leads to his frustration and insecurity in his children. The person quarrels frequently when shown resistance and often becomes violent. The atmosphere of the house no longer remains peaceful and creates a number of domestic problems with the wife, children and other family members. The family of an alcoholic may suffer silently or show resistance. The neglected children may follow a wrong path and take to crime or drugs.
Effects of Alcohol on Society
An alcoholic not only harms himself but also the society pays a price for it. Accidents by drunken drivers are on increase in cities and highways. Alcohol impairs judgement and increases the reaction time. An alcoholic puts not only himself but also the people on roads at a greater risk. As alcohol drinking impairs judgement, even innocent youths are led to crime under its influence. As alcohol reduces the mental restrain and self – control, a number of corrupt practices in the society are linked to alcoholism directly or indirectly. Alcoholism has led to more violence in the society. Under the influence of alcohol, people become less tolerant, start using abusive language and react impulsively without about its repurcussions. Alcoholism spreads antisocial and illegal activities like distillation and sale of illicit or spurious liquor, drug trafficking and decline of moral values.
Long – term effects of Alcohol
Alcohol is an intoxicant and the person under its influence suffers from loss of judgement and self – control. Alcohol not only affects the individual himself but also his family and society.
Effects of Alcohol on an Individual
Effect on Central nervous system: Alcohol is a depressant and not a stimulator as many people think. Alcohol has an anaesthetic effect and releases inhibitions. Alcohol first affects the brain cortex and the person is no longer able to think clearly and judge good or bad. He suffers from loss of judgement and will power. The person may feel less inhibited. His normal restraints disappear and he loses self – control. As alcohol takes its effects, the vision gets distorted. The person may have a blurred or double vision. As alcohol reaches the cerebellum, the muscular control begins to disappear. The person is unable to walk in a straight line and walks in a clumsy gait. He becomes dizzy while standing and has a tendency to fall. Excessive intake of alcohol decreases the blood sugar level and may cause permanent damage to nerve cells.
Effects on Liver: Liver is the organ that gets most affected and damaged by excessive drinking of alcohol. In the liver, alcohol is converted into a more toxic substance, acetaldehyde. Also, liver synthesizes fats from alcohol. The fat lowers the production of metabolism of fat, protein and carbohydrates; it becomes a store house for fat. It leads to swelling of liver and a condition called fatty liver syndrome (75% of alcoholics suffers from this syndrome). Continued use of alcohol leads to serious degeneration of liver called cirrhosis. In this disease the fatty liver shrinks and hardens as liver cells are replaced by fibrous tissue.
Effects on Stomach: Stomach is another organ affected severely by excessive drinking alcohol. In the stomach, alcohol causes an increased flow of gastric juices. High doses of alcohol (more so if taken empty stomach) lead to painful inflammation of the stomach lining called gastritis.
Effects on Kidneys: The oxidation of alcohol in the cells produces water. This excess water is excreted in large amounts by the skin during heat elimination. But this leads to dehydration of tissues and greater concentration of nitrogenous wastes in the kidneys. Alcohol affects the normal elimination of wastes by kidneys.
Effects on other Body Organs: Cells oxidize most of the alcohol taken in but the rest is removed in a variety of ways. A part of alcohol is released in the lungs and is removed along with exhaled air. It gives an alcoholic a typical alcoholic breath odour. A small part of alcohol passes out into the kidneys and is eliminated in urine.
Alcohol Psychosis: In certain cases (about one in ten) alcoholism leads to a mental disorder called alcohol psychosis. Such people need the professional help of the doctors and psychiatrists and must be admitted in the mental hospital.
Symptoms of Alcohol Psychosis
Excessive intake of alcohol affects the nervous tissue. There is general deterioration of parts of brain. Often alcoholics starve themselves for long periods during drinking alcohol. The disease gets aggravated with the deficiency of complex vitamins necessary for normal nervous activity. The person suffering from alcoholic psychosis shows a confused personality. He is in a state of delirium and does not know who he is. The person suffers from hallucinations involving visual horror. As a result he may show uncontrolled trembling called delirium tremens (or D.T.'S). He may also suffer from the memory loss of recent events. The disorder can be treated only under medical supervision that needs the professional help of psychotherapists, doctors and dieticians.
Effects of Alcohol on the Family
An alcoholic neglects his family. Once addicted an alcoholic wants to have a drink alcohol, even if there is not enough money for food in the house. Even well-to-do families break and get ruined by alcohol drinking. The alcoholic does not care about the needs of his family members, his motto is to satisfy his own desire of drinking. It leads to his frustration and insecurity in his children. The person quarrels frequently when shown resistance and often becomes violent. The atmosphere of the house no longer remains peaceful and creates a number of domestic problems with the wife, children and other family members. The family of an alcoholic may suffer silently or show resistance. The neglected children may follow a wrong path and take to crime or drugs.
Effects of Alcohol on Society
An alcoholic not only harms himself but also the society pays a price for it. Accidents by drunken drivers are on increase in cities and highways. Alcohol impairs judgement and increases the reaction time. An alcoholic puts not only himself but also the people on roads at a greater risk. As alcohol drinking impairs judgement, even innocent youths are led to crime under its influence. As alcohol reduces the mental restrain and self – control, a number of corrupt practices in the society are linked to alcoholism directly or indirectly. Alcoholism has led to more violence in the society. Under the influence of alcohol, people become less tolerant, start using abusive language and react impulsively without about its repurcussions. Alcoholism spreads antisocial and illegal activities like distillation and sale of illicit or spurious liquor, drug trafficking and decline of moral values.
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