| Often when I teach alcohol awareness classes clients | | | | which there is no precise definition, varies with body |
| ask, "What are the actual effects of alcohol on our | | | | size, metabolic rate, individual absorption, and individual |
| bodies" and, "What is chronic alcoholism?" This article | | | | tolerance. |
| will address both the physiological effects of alcohol | | | | Convulsions, Seizures and Possibly Pink Elephants |
| and the human body as well as describe chronic | | | | Prolonged and chronic use of alcohol can lead to the |
| alcoholism and the body of a chronic alcoholic. | | | | body to compensate for the depressed normal |
| Either it's Cold Outside or You Like Your Vodka | | | | nervous system activity. The nervous system tends to |
| Alcohol is a vasodilator, meaning the blood vessels | | | | "work harder" to maintain equilibrium and when the |
| dilate or enlarge. Chronically dilated veins are often | | | | alcohol is taken away the nervous system may |
| associated with liver disease, and the "enlarged red | | | | experience excessive excitement, leading to |
| nose" of the chronic alcoholic is usually the result of | | | | convulsions, seizures, and ultimately delirium tremens |
| permanently dilated blood vessels. Dilation of the veins | | | | (the DT's), a state of restlessness, disorientation, and |
| of the esophagus can cause one to vomit blood. | | | | possible hallucination. |
| Late-stage alcoholics have been known to drown in | | | | Mental impairment in chronic alcohol use is difficult to |
| their own blood because of ruptured esophageal blood | | | | quantify because some impairment is reparable either |
| vessels. | | | | by itself or by the construction of alternate nervous |
| Edema, the accumulation of tissue fluid, also known as | | | | routes in the brain. Perhaps the most noticeable of the |
| swelling, occurs with alcohol consumption because | | | | reparable impairments is personality loss. |
| alcohol causes the blood vessels to expand, whereby | | | | The major nutritional problem with alcohol is poor diet. |
| the proteins and fluids within the capillaries leak into the | | | | Also, excessive alcohol ingestion often leads to |
| interstitial space. This accumulation between the cells | | | | gastrointestinal irritation, and this can lead to ulcers, |
| leads to tissue swelling. Because the fluid is not within | | | | colitis (inflamed colon), and other chronic ailments. |
| the blood vessels, apparent dehydration exists. So | | | | Grandpappy is Always Drunk. Is That bad? |
| you're full of liquid but still thirsty. | | | | Maybe 10 percent of the population is addicted to |
| How You Make Yellow Snow? | | | | alcohol. Probably no single cause of alcohol addiction |
| Drinking too much can lead to a buildup of bilirubin, the | | | | exists, maybe there are many. We've found some |
| yellow breakdown product of normal heme catabolism. | | | | genetic markers, and the genetic component of |
| Heme is found in hemoglobin, a principal component of | | | | alcoholism is well documented. Nevertheless, genetics |
| red blood cells. Bilirubin is excreted in bile and urine, and | | | | alone does not explain all alcohol addiction. |
| elevated levels may indicate certain diseases. Bilirubin is | | | | Psychological components to alcohol addiction have |
| responsible for the yellow color of bruises, urine, and | | | | also been identified. For most alcohol addicts, the only |
| the yellow discoloration in jaundice whose presence | | | | treatment is total abstinence from alcohol. |
| may indicate liver disease. | | | | Participation in a program such as Alcoholics |
| How Come Drunks Like to Fight? Maybe Here's a | | | | Anonymous can be a huge help in an addict beginning |
| Couple of Reasons | | | | and maintaining abstinence from alcohol. There are |
| Alcohol is a central nervous system depressant, | | | | also online alcohol classes and alcohol awareness |
| meaning alcohol decreases the efficiency of your | | | | classes that can be taken from home that can be of |
| nervous system. That's why you can't walk the white | | | | help. The alcoholic's body does not "forget" alcohol, and |
| line when you get pulled over for a DUI. Alcohol | | | | the induced enzymes mentioned earlier remain ready |
| depresses all of the major systems in the body. High | | | | to continue their metabolic actions if alcohol use |
| quantities of alcohol function as an anesthetic. | | | | resumes. |
| Alcohol also depresses psychological inhibition, which | | | | Despite its legal status, it is important to be aware that |
| sometimes causes some to confuse it as a stimulant. | | | | alcohol is a drug and its use must be controlled. If you |
| Because of this apparent stimulation of certain | | | | or anyone you know may be suffering from alcohol |
| behaviors, psychologists call alcohol a biphasic drug. | | | | dependence, please have them seek help immediately. |
| The combination of Central Nervous System | | | | There are online options to take voluntary and |
| depression and inhibition release leads to the | | | | involuntary courses on alcohol rehabilitation. |
| symptoms of drunkenness. Drunkenness, a term for | | | | |