Saturday, November 15, 2008

Mild Drinking May Turn Disastrous

If you must have your odd drink to relax  for the evening it is best to do it at home and when you have no other business for the evening where you need to drive to get some place.  It may sound a bit alrmist but it is best not even to step out of your house for a walk or small errands.  The reasons are well documented.

It is now well established that even small quantities of alcohol impairs your judgment where some amount of precision or co-ordination of the mind and body is required.   Even at low doses of alcohol, ability to judge is fairly decreased. 

Low doses could make you aggressive and prone to domestic violence including child abuse.  You turn more talkative, have disregard for social niceties and lose proper etiquettes required for interaction with others.

Depending upon your physical health you also experience some dizziness.

While any type of drinking is not advocated, drink mildly if you must in safe surroundings such as your home where you can get to bed after dinner and be out of harms way.  

Thursday, November 13, 2008

Shocking Facts About Alcohol Consumption

Alcoholism is fatal disease. If it is not diagnosed and treated well in time it could result in disastrous consequences for the health if not resulting in untimely and unnatural death. Why I say unnatural is most of the death of alcoholics occur due to avoidable accidents.

The sad part is most of us do not recognize alcoholism as a disease. Alcohol affects our physiology in predictable ways that lead to addiction.

Here are some shocking facts about drinking and consequences of alcoholism

Worldwide alcohol causes 1.8 million deaths, which is 3.2 % of total deaths. US alone accounts for more than 100,000 deaths every year.

Alcoholism is the primary cause of 58.2 million Disability Adjusted Life Years.

Nearly 14 Americans meet with the diagnostic criteria for alcohol use disorders.

Most of the youth who drink get their drink from friends and relatives.

50 % of the alcoholics have a blood relative who is or was an alcoholic or a problem drinker.

About 18% of Americans experience alchol dependence and go through alcohol abuse at some period during their lifetime.

45 % of road fatalities are due to alcohol related crashes.

World wide 20-30% of esophageal cancer, liver cancer, cirrhosis of the liver, homicide, epilepsy, and motor vehicle accidents occur due to alcohol abuse or heavy alcohol consumption.

Global consumption of the alcohol is on the increase especially in developing countries.
So next time around when you reach for that extra drink please keeps these facts in mind.

*Source: WHO & National Institute on Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism

Monday, November 10, 2008

Alcohol Abuse Leads to Liver Damage

All the temporary pleasures of excessive alcohol consumption can lead to extreme pain in the long term.

Studies have conclusively proven the serious and harmful effects of long term alcohol abuse on the various organs of our body. While there have always articles that promote moderate consumption of alcohol as good for heart, there are few articles that promote the ill effects.

One of the most affected part of the body due to alcohol consumption is the liver a very vital organ of the body. Leave alone alcohol abuse even a somewhat higher consumtion can wreak havoc on the liver. Liver plays a central role in processing fat, sugar, proteins and vitamins and filtering the toxins from our internals. It also plays an important role in the body’s defense mechanism.

An excess consumption of alcohol puts stress on the livers ability to eliminate the toxins resulting in ALD (Alcoholic Liver Disease). Depending on severity it may ultimately lead to premature death due to livers incapacity to remove the toxins and poisoning the entire body.

Women compared with men develop the ALD’s faster and with lesser daily doses of alcohol.

It is best to cultivate a moderate alcohol use if not altogether avoid it if you want to lead a happy and healthy life. The recommended safe drinking is 1.5 ounces of 80 proof distilled spirit for men and half of it for women.

Drink if you must or want a little fun but keep it to the limits or consequences could lead to more pain than pleasure in the long run.

Saturday, November 8, 2008

How to Recognize If You Are an Alcoholic

Most alcoholic do not believe that they are addicted. They tend to believe that they are well in control just because they are not drunk senseless. Here are a few symptoms which can tell you whether you are normal rare social drinker or alcoholic.

Craving: You are having an uncontrollable urge to drink through the day. Though you may want to cut down on your drinking you are unable and weak willed and reach for a drink at the smallest excuse.

Loss of Control: Unable to stop drinking once you begin. You may come in for criticism by friends and family. However the alcoholic will continue to drink in spite of all criticism and social ostracism.

Withdrawal symptoms: Feeling of depression, nausea and shakiness. Your hands may be shaking uncontrollably once the craving for a drink hits you. If you are unable to have your periodic drink you may have high anxiety. You may also have feelings of guilt but nevertheless you are unable to stop your drinking.

Increased tolerance: As alcoholism takes rout you need to drink greater amounts of alcohol to get the ‘highs’. You may also badly require a drink first thing in the morning to calm your nerves or get over your hangover.

If you are suffering from any one or all of the symptoms, it best to reach for help immediately through counseling and medical treatment. Prolonged alcohol abuse can result in mental and physical disorders and untimely death.